Housekeepers Harassed, EEOC Sues

All workers have the right to work in an environment free of discrimination and daily harassment

said EEOC Regional Attorney Anna Park in connection with the EEOC's lawsuit against Simon Property Group, filed last week.

The EEOC alleges that Simon Property Group subjected a class of Hispanic employees to a hostile work environment while they performed custodial and janitorial duties at the Forum Shops at Caesar Palace in Las Vegas.

The harass­ment began in 2005, when the housekeeping shift lead was hired, and ended when he was terminated for reasons related to the harassment, according to the EEOC.

The housekeeping shift lead referred to housekeepers and other Latino employees as “wetbacks,” “tacos,” and “burritos” and repeatedly told them to “go back to Mexico” – among other things charges the suit.

The EEOC says he also told the Latinos that Mexicans have “inferior intelligence and capability in comparison to whites, and that is why whites are in power."

This alleged conduct violates federal anti-discrimination law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Simon Property Group owns and/or manages various shopping malls throughout the country, including the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The EEOC seeks lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief to prevent and correct any future workplace discrimination.

Source: EEOC