A Coral Gables firm denies sexual harassment of woman — but agrees to pay $180,000
Editor’s note: This story was updated to protect the identity of the executive assistant.
A Coral Gables wealth management company must pay a former employee $180,000 and give her a positive job reference as part of a settlement to a federal sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.
The lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claimed the former employee faced verbal and physical sexual harassment at The Coral Gables Trust Company shortly after being hired in February 2015 as a marketing officer and executive assistant. And after she spoke up, in January 2017, the suit says the company engaged in retaliatory behavior.
She left Coral Gables Trust in April 2017.
A statement e-mailed to The Miami Herald from Coral Gables Trust Company Chairman and CEO James Davidson read, “We have agreed to resolve this matter with the EEOC, although Coral Gables Trust Company strongly denies the allegations. We have a zero-tolerance policy and are fully committed to maintaining a harassment-free workplace. We have taken measures to ensure that we continue to provide a professional work environment where all employees feel supported.”
Court documents say the former employee will be paid $30,000 in back pay and $150,000 in compensatory damages.
The job reference letter included in the consent decree states she “successfully performed her duties as a Marketing Officer and Executive Assistant throughout her time with the company.”
Also, according to the EEOC, the company must “retain an independent equal employment opportunity consultant to investigate all complaints of sex-based harassment, discrimination or retaliation....distribute a revised policy against sex discrimination ... post a notice informing employees about the suit ... provide anti-discrimination training to all managers and employees ... and provide individual training to the company’s chief wealth advisor.”
This story was originally published April 9, 2018 at 11:57 AM with the headline "A Coral Gables firm denies sexual harassment of woman — but agrees to pay $180,000."