If approved by the court, the proposed settlement requires Ayoquezco Farms to implement new policies and procedures to protect against sexual harassment in the workplace. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, follows a lawsuit filed by CRD last year.
If approved by the court, the proposed settlement will also require Ayoquezco Farms to implement new policies and procedures to help protect against future instances of sexual harassment in the workplace. This settlement puts robust requirements in place to prevent against future discrimination at Ayoquezco Farms and makes it clear that there are consequences for harassment.
In November , CRD received a complaint against Ayoquezco Farms, headquartered in Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, and its owner alleging sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. According to the complaint, the owner allegedly subjected the employee, just days after she was hired in , to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, including by making crude sexual remarks and other unlawful misconduct.
When the complainant brought the matter to a supervisor, the defendants, rather than investigating or addressing the concerns, allegedly retaliated by escalating the sexual harassment and creating working conditions which were so intolerable that the complainant was forced to resign. Pursuant to its statutory authority, CRD investigated the administrative complaint, and determined in that there was sufficient evidence that the defendant discriminated against and unlawfully harassed the complainant.
After an unsuccessful attempt at mediation, CRD filed a lawsuit in The proposed settlement announced today aims to resolve the lawsuit and will, among other things, require Ayoquezco Farms to:.
