St. Cloud YMCA Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Paying $140K

The St. Cloud Area Family YMCA has agreed to pay $140,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after a manager subjected female employees, including two teenagers, to sexual harassment. The manager repeatedly made unwelcome sexual comments, demeaning remarks about women, and propositions for sex, which were reported to management but not promptly addressed, forcing one employee to resign. The settlement requires the YMCA to revise its harassment and discrimination policies, conduct periodic employee surveys to monitor for harassment, provide management training on federal law obligations, and report future complaints to the EEOC. The YMCA's executive director stated that the organization takes employee safety seriously and terminated the offending employee following an investigation in 2022. The lawsuit cited violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex-based discrimination and constructive discharge. This consent decree aims to prevent future harassment and improve workplace conditions at the YMCA.