The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that An Iraan, Texas oil field construction and services company, will pay $30,000 to settle a retaliation lawsuit.

The suit, filed in US District Court for the Western District of Texas, charged that Garrison Contractors, Inc. fired its only female roustabout after she reported being sexual harassed on the job in the field.

The company hired Elma Garza as a dump truck driver in January 2012.  Garza spent most of her time employed with the company as the only female oil field worker.  Garza did everything from fixing oil and gas leaks to digging ditches, all alongside her male counterparts and fellow employees. 

The suit claimed that throughout her employment, Garza was the victim of lewd comments about female organs and sex.  The suit further explains that when Garza formally reported the behavior of her male peers, the company fired her.

Aside from the settlement fee, the consent decree settling the lawsuit also requires the company to implement a written anti-retaliation policy that protects employees from adverse employment action for filing complaints.  The company must also conduct annual training for all officers, managers, gang pushers and roustabouts for three years regarding the law against retaliation in the workplace.  Finally, the company has to post an anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation notice.