A Maryland athletic club has agreed to pay $161,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced.

In the lawsuit, the EEOC alleged that Big Vanilla Athletic Club violated federal law by sexually harassing several female employees at the company’s locations in Pasadena and Arnold , Maryland . The agency said that the women were subjected to repeated and unwanted sexually offensive remarks and sexual advances. Further, the EEOC charged that three women were fired in retaliation for their complaints.

In addition to paying $161,000, the company agreed to train current and future managers on anti-discrimination laws and to post notices stating its commitment to maintaining an environment free of sexual harassment and retaliation.

In fiscal year 2007, retaliation charges surged 18 percent to a record high level of 26,663, making retaliation the second-highest charge category (behind race) for the first time ever. Additionally, sexual harassment filings increased for the first time since fiscal year 2000, numbering 12,510, a 4 percent increase from the prior fiscal year.

Source: HR.BLR.com