Harrassment

EMC CONFRONTS HARRASSMENT CHARGES

Kaplan University

MT203: Human Resources Management

Dana Williams

March 11, 2012

EMC Confronts Harassment Charges

Introduction

According to lawsuits filed by half a dozen women, EMC Corporation has subjected saleswomen to sexual discrimination (Noe, Hollenback, Gerhart, Wright, 2009, p. 87 para.1). The women claim EMC subjected them to demeaning sexual comments, company-paid trips to strip clubs, a decrease in pay if they did not “fish, hunt, swear, drink, or smile.” The women also claim the salesmen were given accounts they built up, and were refused a pay raise if they did not participate in these activities as well (Noe, Hollenback, Gerhart, Wright, 2009, p. 87 para. 2). The women who refused, or complained were retaliated against with offensive action.

Review/Analysis of the Case

EMC did violate many Equal Employment Opportunity laws, according to Equal Pay Act of 1963, “men and women performing equal jobs are to receive equal pay” (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2009 p.59). EMC pay data statistics showed that saleswomen received $39,354 less than salesmen (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2009 p.87). Title VII “forbids discrimination to anyone based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2009 p. 59). The EEOC considers sexual harassment of any employee to be unlawful employment discrimination. The behaviors that are considered as sexual harassments are “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical contact of sexual nature” (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2009 p. 73 para.1).

EMC could...