Human Relations Commission Orders Montgomery County-Based Ambulance Service to Pay $13,117 for Sexual Harassment, Retaliation

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ordered Penn Health Ambulance of Huntington Valley, Montgomery County to pay Asma Zarash of Philadelphia $13,117 for sexual harassment and retaliation. The order took effect Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Zarash filed a complaint on March 12, 2012, alleging that her supervisor sexually harassed her, and that Penn Health later retaliated against her for opposing the harassment.

After Penn Health failed to file a legal answer to the complaint, then failed to respond to a court order to do so, the commission held the company liable for unlawful discrimination.

The commission held a public hearing to determine damages, and ordered the company to:

• cease allowing employees to be sexually harassed;
• cease retaliating against employees for opposing discrimination; and
• pay Zarash $11,819, plus interest, for unpaid wages and complaint-related expenses. To date, interest brings Zarash's award to $13,117.

"Sexual harassment is a serious charge," Commission Executive Director JoAnn Edwards said. "No one should ever have to work under hostile conditions or face retaliation when they oppose those conditions. It's the law."

The company has 30 days to report to the commission how it will comply with the order.

Learn more about illegal discrimination and equal employment opportunity in Pennsylvania at www.phrc.state.pa.us. 

Media contact: Shannon Powers, 717-783-8266

SOURCE Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

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