Harassing someone at work shows a lack of respect, and so does ignoring them when they complain about it. That's what two employees of a Napa insurance company say happened to them, and now the company is set to pay $230,000 in a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The lawsuit contends that two female employees endured sexual harassment and retaliation while working for Doctors Co., which is the nation's biggest insurer of physicians.

One of the employees, who worked as an administrative assistant, says she was harassed every day beginning in August 2007. She says the harassment included sexually suggestive comments, unwelcome touching, text messages and emails.

According to SFGate.com, the company conducted anti-harassment training. After that, the employee complained to a manager. She brought a co-worker along with her as a witness. However, they both allege that their claims were not taken seriously.

Both women say they were closely watched from then on, and were both fired in the spring of 2008.

The company claims the women were fired for reasons not relating to the alleged harassment. It denied any harassment took place, although as part of the settlement it has agreed to pay the women $150,000 and $80,000, respectively. One of the women says she hopes the settlement will prevent others from going through a similar situation.

According to the settlement agreement, Doctors Co. must also train its managers regarding sexual harassment issues. It's also obligated to report any harassment complaints to the EEOC on a yearly basis.

Source: SFGate.com, "Doctors Co. pays $230,000 in sex harassment case," Bob Egelko, Sept. 27, 2011