Sandia Transportation reaches settlement with EEOC
Sandia Transportation has agreed to pay $97,500 in connection with a lawsuit that alleged the motor vehicle company discriminated against women and lesbian employees.
The settlement stemmed from a lawsuit brought against the company nearly a year ago by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The lawsuit alleged the company subjected four women employees to disparaging and discriminatory comments, creating a hostile work environment for them because of their sex, sexual orientation or because the women did not conform to gender stereotypes, according to an EEOC news release.
Sandia Transportation officials didn’t return a call seeking comment on Friday. The company, at 4412 Second St. NW, is a non-emergency medical transportation company.
According to the EEOC, one of the women was harassed because she associated with lesbian employees, who the owner,
Faridoun Veriyani, allegedly referred to as “(expletive) lesbians” and “fat ugly (expletive).” Veriyani also said that such women would be killed in his home country and that he hated “dealing with women.”
The four women were ultimately fired on the same day, during which Veriyani announced to the entire office that “the lesbians” had been fired, according o the EEOC.
The EEOC alleged Sandia Transportation violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. The parties resolved the case through a consent decree in litigation, according to the EEOC.
“We are pleased that the EEOC and Sandia Transportation have reached a resolution that includes monetary relief for the women affected by Sandia’s conduct and that Sandia Transportation will change its policies and procedures,” Regional Attorney
Mary Jo O’Neill of the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office, whose jurisdiction includes New Mexico, said in a statement. “The EEOC remains committed to rooting out discriminatory conduct in the workplace and to protecting the rights of women and LGBTQ+ workers.”
Under the terms of the consent decree, the four female employees will be paid a total of $97,500 in compensatory damages. The settlement also requires that Sandia Transportation refrain from engaging in discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation and retaliation. The company will also have to provide employees with annual training.
“Employees have the right to work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination. This resolution is a victory for that right,” April Klug, EEOC’s Albuquerque area director, said in a statement.