By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas

A  transportation services company, Outwest Express and American One Source, a professional employer organization that provides human resource services, have agreed to pay $90,000 to voluntarily resolve a sex discrimination and retaliation charge filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor­tunity Commission, the federal agency announced today. Both companies are based in El Paso, Texas.

The agreement announced today resolves a charge of discrimination filed with the EEOC alleging that a female recruiter was fired immediately after she complained that her boss treated her differently from male employees because of her sex.

The recruiter was hired by American One Source and worked at Outwest Express’s Kansas City, Missouri terminal recruiting and training new truck drivers. She alleged that during her three months of employment, her boss repeatedly cursed at and ridiculed her, but that he did not treat male employees in a similarly demeaning manner. She alleged that when she complained to human resources about the treat­ment, she was fired the next morning.

The EEOC investigated and determined the companies’ alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and retaliation for complaining about discrimination. Outwest Express and American One Source deny the recruiter’s allegations.

“We are glad to resolve this matter through voluntary compliance, which benefits the recruiter, the companies, and the public interest,” said acting director of the EEOC’s St. Louis District, David Davis. “Outwest Express and American One Source have agreed to provide appropriate relief and improve their workplace policies and procedures to prevent future harassment and retaliation.”

In addition to providing monetary relief for the recruiter, Outwest Express and American One Source will train their supervisors and employees and report to the EEOC for three years.

The EEOC’s St. Louis District Office is responsible for receiving and investigating charges of employment discrimination and the conduct of agency litigation in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and a portion of southern Illinois, with area offices in Kansas City, Kansas. and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.