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

Verified

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 sued SkyWest Airlines, alleging it fostered a hostile work environment and retaliated against a former employee who reported sexual harassment.
The lawsuit details claims by former employee Sarah Budd of enduring crude sexual comments and jokes from coworkers and a manager, and that her complaints led to inaction, increased hostility, and ultimately her forced resignation after being placed on indefinite administrative leave.
The EEOC is seeking back-payment, damages for Budd, and a court order to prevent future discriminatory practices, while SkyWest maintains it has "zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind."

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.