The first sexual harassment complaints against Ford Motor Company’s two Chicago plants started more than 25 years ago, according to the New York Times. Despite many lawsuits and millions of dollars paid by the Company, the problem persists for women working for the nation’s second largest car manufacturer.

While harassment in high tech and the #MeToo movement have made recent news, Ford’s problem is not that of a fast growing, new company whose founder likes a frat party work atmosphere. Sexual harassment and discrimination, illegal under federal and state laws, have been problems at Ford’s Chicago plants for decades.  Unlike high tech start-ups, many female Ford workers are represented by a Union, the United Auto Workers (UAW), which is supposed to protect the workers, including assurances that it will push the Company to go after harassers, discriminators, and retaliators.

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the agency that enforces employment discrimination laws) states that by 2015, half of all sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints filed by Ford’s domestic workforce involved the Chicago operations.

Ford’s efforts have fluctuated over time, from intense efforts to address these issues followed by periods of neglect.  The Company has often delayed firing those accused of harassment or quietly disciplined them, leaving some to conclude that offenders go unpunished.

The Union is divided by those who want to end discrimination against women and minorities and others who want to protect the status quo and those accused of wrongdoing. One employee who spoke to the Times stated a co-worker offered her money for sex and she reported him to the Union. A Union official told her she shouldn’t report him to the company because it may jeopardize his job, benefits, and pension. She was told she should consider the offer a compliment.

The Company claims sexual harassment is rare and not systemic, but there were upswings in the 1990’s and again in 2010 as new workers were hired after the industry rebounded from the recession. Women at the plant report men still make unwanted advances, but over time the women have become more aggressive in shutting down obnoxious co-workers.

Darnise Hardy told a reporter that when she started in the 1970’s, she was one of the first women to start at the Chicago plants.  Male co-workers told her that she belonged at home in the kitchen. Two decades later, a foreman told Suzette Wright that women should never have been hired.

Veteran female employees warned her that reporting bad behavior would only bring retaliation. The smallest infraction, routinely overlooked when committed by others, could result in a write-up. To keep the production line moving, supervisors could make life miserable in a number of ways, like denying bathroom breaks.

Company investigators were often stymied by the lack of witnesses, “he said she said” allegations, in addition to Union protection of many men accused of harassment. More recently, the Company appears willing to discipline and fire offenders. The number of complaints has been cut in half since 2015.

Some women employees at Ford report dreading coming to the plants and cite harassment and discrimination as current events. They talk about a number of men accused of repeated harassment who appear untouchable.

One employee made repeated calls to Ford’s company anti-harassment hotline (including an instance when a supervisor appeared at her home to harass her), yet she received no help. But she was recently stunned after the plant’s new human resources director welcomed her to his office and vowed to help. For the first time in years, she says she feels a manager took her complaints seriously.

No matter the size, age, or location of your employer: sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation for complaining of discrimination are illegal under federal and New Jersey laws. If your NJ employer is breaking the law and you want to know how to protect yourself, contact our office. We are conveniently located in Central NJ, on Route 27 in Kingston.  We will listen to your facts, explain the law, and help you figure out the best path to social and economic justice.  Call today.  You will be glad you did.