Lakeland Eye Clinic, P.A., of Florida has agreed to a consent decree resolving a lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2014, alleging the company fired an employee because of transgender issues, basing its case on its interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

As a result of the consent decree, the company will pay $150,000 to the aggrieved employee and offer a neutral letter of reference, revise its harassment and discrimination policies to protect such individuals, train managers and staff accordingly, make monthly reports to the EEOC on its compliance with the decree, and subject itself to two years of monitoring by the EEOC.

A second case filed by the EEOC the same day against R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. of Michigan is pending.


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