$162,000 Awarded In Pennsylvania Sexual Harassment Case

Staff Writer, Dec 17, 2008

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Chairperson Stephen A. Glassman has ordered Plum Entertainment LLC to pay $162,000 plus interest to a Montgomery County woman for lost wages due to sexual harassment. If that wasn’t enough, Plum Entertainment has also been required to take steps to keep this kind of harassment from happening again at their company.

Sharon Sheridan was illegally discriminated against on the basis of her sex at Plum Entertainment, where she was subjected to a hostile work environment and subsequently fired because she opposed the illegal actions that were being taken against her.

Glassman advises that Pennsylvania workplaces are not the epitome of discrimination-free work sites by a long shot but goes on to say that every person has the right to work in an atmosphere that is free of discriminations such as sexual harassment.

When Sheridan filed her complaint in 2005, it was several years later before she received a hearing in 2007. The findings of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission became public at that point and a hearing was held to determine what should be done. The decision of the commission was that Sheridan’s claims were valid and a swift decision was made to award Sheridan nearly $96,000 in lost wages as well as six percent interest until the lump sum is paid. Sheridan’s award also includes an amount that represents how much she would have made through the year 2010, had she remained in the employment of Plum Entertainment LLC. This is what is known as front pay.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission hopes that the decision in Sheridan’s case sends an open, frank message to every company within their jurisdiction. The message is that sexual harassment is illegal, will not be tolerated and will be punished by the fullest extent of the law when discovered.

As for Plum Entertainment LLC, they have 30 days to report back to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission with explanation as to how they plan to rectify problems within the company regarding sexual harassment and discrimination. In addition, the entertainment company must train all of its employees on the policies once they have been developed. It was further stipulated that Plum must also cease from all discriminatory practices immediately in order to continue operating.