Wednesday, September 30, 2009

7139: Chevy Dealers Are Dingbats.


From The Chicago Tribune…

Women who shop for cars are called “dingbats”

By Greg Burns

The Chicago office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is one of the most aggressive federal agencies around, and this week it is rising to the defense of “dingbats.”

“Dingbat” is the unflattering term that male employees of Castle Chevrolet in Villa Park supposedly were using to describe the dealership’s female customers.

The car dealer’s principals also are accused of making sexually hostile, abusive and threatening remarks to female employees, groping them and ignoring their complaints.

No one at Villa Park Chevrolet responded immediately to a request for comment. The case has been filed in U.S. District Court after voluntary “conciliation” failed, so presumably the company is contesting the allegation.

Led by regional attorney John Hendrickson, the EEOC office at 500 W. Madison carries a big stick. It’s the same office that went after the Illinois factory of Mitsubishi, in a sex-harassment case that attracted national attention after uncovering outrageous examples of abuse. “One would think that anyone in the auto industry—especially after EEOC’s Mistubishi case—would know that sexual harassment is not only a violation of federal law, but also just plain terrible for the bottom line,” Hendrickson said.

1 comment:

Anina Tul said...

All dealer are not same but I am too much disappointed to about the sex-harassment news. Its a serious violence and need to take immediate action, SO why they are so delaying too?
Chicago Dodge Dealer