Atlantic Capes Fisheries Reaches Settlement in EEOC Lawsuit, Implements Improvements to Ensure Favorable Work Environment

FALL RIVER, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2019 / Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc. (ACF) has reached a settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and four women in a sexual harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit stems from claims that largely predate ACF’s acquisition of an operational and fully staffed IQF Custom Packing, Inc. (IQF) processing plant in Fall River, Mass., in 2013. The majority of the 175 employees at the IQF facility were temporary employees, employed by BJ’s Service Company, Inc. (BJ’s).

The terms of the settlement include $130,000 for three women and $75,000 for a fourth woman alleged to have been subject to harassment. ACF is pleased that three of the four women receiving settlements never resigned their employment and remain valued employees in the company’s operations. One of the women voluntarily chose not to return to work after sustaining an injury. The costs of the settlement will be split between ACF and BJ’s.

When ACF acquired the Fall River facility in 2013, it immediately put in place equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and anti-sexual harassment policies and practices. ACF initially kept the IQF management team in place for the sake of continuity, and were only belatedly made aware of the allegations that gave rise to this lawsuit. As soon as ACF management learned of general allegations of harassment, the company immediately invited workers to come forward and share specific concerns and hired counsel to assist in investigating these complaints. The workers alleged to have behaved inappropriately are no longer employed by either ACF or BJ’s.

The EEOC aggressively investigated these particular claims and also whether there was evidence of a wider pattern or practice of discrimination in the work place. The EEOC questioned all employees confidentially to determine if there was evidence of discrimination. The agency also mailed letters in English and Spanish to present and past employees seeking confidential information about other work place misconduct. No other employees have reported being harassed and no further claims have arisen.

Even before being made aware of these isolated complaints, ACF management and staff were actively working to improve the working conditions at its Fall River facility. Improvements include the implementation of an ”open door policy” and zero tolerance for workplace harassment, physical improvements to the facility to create a stronger work environment, employee-centered changes to the facility’s vacation and holiday policies, and a bilingual on-site liaison to assist all workers in the facility. Additionally, ACF has already engaged trainers for agreed-to sexual harassment training, scheduled to take place next month.

About ACF’s Fall River Facility

ACF’s Fall River facility processes and packs Atlantic sea scallops, and is committed to long term relationships with its suppliers, customers, and workers. The facility is a clean, safe, and friendly workplace that provides meaningful and valuable employment to over 175 people, and high-quality seafood to consumers.

BJ’s Service Company, Inc. is not affiliated with BJ’s Wholesale Club.

CONTACT:

Stove Boat Communications
Robert Vanasse
202-333-2628
bob@stoveboat.com

SOURCE: Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc.

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