On Nov. 23, 2009, a former Big Lots store employee who alleged her manager harassed her and forced her to have sex received a $50,000 settlement from the company. Michelle Pritchard claimed she was subjected to a sexually hostile environment while she worked at the Lufkin store in 2006 and 2007. She alleged her manager forced her to have sex in the store on two occasions, and when he discovered she had filed a complaint about him, her working hours were cut and his verbal abuse continued. Pritchard said the working conditions became so intolerable that she ultimately quit in May 2007. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Big Lots on Pritchard’s behalf, alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Big Lots agreed to the settlement but did not admit any wrongdoing.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, et al. v. Big Lots Stores Inc., No. 9:08-cv-00177-RC
