The Original HoneyBaked Ham Co. of Georgia Inc. - a popular food outlet known for providing customers with high-end meat products - is now the subject of a federal lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging both pervasive sexual harassment and retaliation against female employees.

According to the EEOC's complaint, a female manager and several other female employees working at an Original HoneyBaked Ham Co. in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, were regularly subjected to unwanted and offensive sexual comments, innuendo and physical contact by a regional manager.

"Cases such as this one show that sexual harassment is still a prevalent problem in the modern workplace," said Mary Jo O'Neill, the EEOC district regional attorney in Phoenix.

In addition, the EEOC complaint alleges that when the manager and several of the employees attempted to report the sexual harassment to their superiors, they were either disciplined or terminated.

The EEOC is seeking back pay, as well as compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the employees. In addition, the agency is asking that all managers and human resources staff at The Original HoneyBaked Ham Co. participate in mandatory antidiscrimination law training. Such training would have to include best practices for recognizing, examining and eradicating sexual harassment among employees.

The Original HoneyBaked Ham Co. has since responded to the lawsuit, claiming that it does not tolerate sexual harassment and releasing a statement.

"When the allegations arose in 2010, we investigated, conducted a full review of the allegations and took immediate actions," read the statement. "It is the policy of The HoneyBaked Ham Co. that all associates should be able to enjoy a work atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment."

Remember, anyone trying to make ends meet should not have to worry about being harassed or enduring a hostile work environment.

Offending companies and employees shouldn't get away with it. The help of an experienced attorney may help in achieving that goal.

Source: ABC 7 -Denver, "EEOC Sues HoneyBaked Ham For Sexual Harassment," Deb Stanley, Oct. 3, 2011