Feds Sue SkyWest Airlines for Alleged Sexual Discrimination

SkyWest said it has 'zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind.'

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 04:30 PM ET

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The EEOC is suing SkyWest Airlines on behalf of a former employee who says she was subjected to sexual harassment by co-workers and was forced to quit after she complained and the airline failed to act. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against SkyWest Airlines, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation against a former employee.
The former employee, Sarah Budd, reported a hostile work environment with crude sexual comments and jokes from coworkers and a manager.
After complaining, Budd was allegedly placed on indefinite administrative leave and ultimately felt forced to resign due to the airline's failure to address her complaints and return her to work.
The EEOC is seeking back-payment, damages, and a court order to prevent future discriminatory treatment from SkyWest, which states it has "zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment."

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The U.S. federal government has filed a lawsuit against regional carrier SkyWest Airlines (NASDAQ: SKYW) after a former employee said the airline placed her on indefinite administrative leave because she complained about being sexually harrassed on the job.

In its lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—which is tasked with enforcing civil rights laws against workplace discrimination—said SkyWest forced a former employee named Sarah Budd to work in a hostile work environment with coworkers and at least one manager who made crude sexual comments and jokes. When Budd complained, the agency alleges the airline retaliated by forcing her to resign through its inaction in addressing her complaints adequately.