Sprouts Farmers Market to pay $265K in sexual harassment, retaliation charge

Bill Wilson

Sprouts Farmers Market has settled a federal sexual harassment and retaliation charge filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The retailer has agreed to pay $265,000 to a group of workers and entered a one-year conciliation agreement with the EEOC. Sprouts Farmers Market will also obtain an external Title VII consultant, update its policies as necessary, provide training to all personnel in the affected district, the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, on Title VII, sexual harassment, and retaliation, and update its investigation process.

The EEOC said the Sprouts Farmers Market located in the San Fernando Valley subjected a group of employees to sexual harassment and then retaliated against them after they complained about it.

“People have the right to work in a harassment-free setting that values input from employees rather than penalizes them for coming forward,” said Patricia Kane, acting director of the EEOC’s Los Angeles district. “We commend Sprouts for addressing the concerns in this charge and for providing relief for the class. And we encourage employers to review and revise policies and procedures regularly and provide training on harassment to all employees.”