Oppenheimer

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• Oppenheimer Co. Is Sued by the EEOC, Charging
  Sexual Bias DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, January 13,
  2006
• Presented by Mary Nance
• for Management 464, February 9, 2006

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Summary

• The EEOC is alleging that in 2003 Oppenheimer
  Co denied a job interview to a woman for a
  broker-trainee position because of her sex.
• The EEOC alleges that the woman learned of the
  alleged discrimination when her brother and other
  male colleagues were granted job interviews after
  she and other female colleagues were told the
  position had been filled.
• Oppenheimer Co disputes the allegations because
  they have and have had in the past a clear
  written policy prohibiting unlawful
  discrimination, and the branch where the woman
  sought a job interview has employed women in the
  broker-trainee positions.

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• EEOC filed suit after exhausting efforts to
  resolve the matter. Oppenheimer claims its
  counsel was in discussions with EEOC to resolve
  the matter and was unaware that the EEOC intended
  to file an action.
• EEOC is seeking monetary damages for the woman,
  an order requiring Oppenheimer to implement
  policies and procedures to prevent
  discrimination, and a permanent injunction
  against other discrimination by the firm.

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Discussion Questions

• As an HR professional, what steps would you take
  to prevent this from happening again?
• As an HR professional, what would you do to
  ensure that company policy prohibiting unlawful
  discrimination is followed?
• As an HR professional, what action(s) should be
  taken against the person(s) involved in the
  alleged discrimination?