US: EEOC Sues Oppenheimer For Sex Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday that it has filed a sex-discrimination lawsuit against Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in federal court in Manhattan, alleging discriminatory behavior in its hiring practices.

In its complaint, the EEOC alleges that Fahnestock & Co. Inc., which is now known as Oppenheimer & Co., denied a job interview to a woman named Jaime Sanders for a broker trainee position because of her sex.

The regulatory agency claims in its complaint that Ms. Sanders learned of this discrimination when her brother and other male colleagues were immediately granted job interviews over the phone after she and other female colleagues were told the position had been filled.

In a news release, the EEOC said it filed a lawsuit after exhausting efforts to voluntarily resolve the matter.

The EEOC is seeking monetary damages for Ms. Sanders, an order requiring Oppenheimer to implement policies and procedures to prevent further discrimination and a permanent injunction against other discrimination by the firm.

A spokesman for Oppenheimer & Co. didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

• 184 Labor