Home Depot Reportedly Will Pay $5.5 Million to Resolve Colorado Class Discrimination Lawsuit

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the simultaneous filing and resolution of a class-wide discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Atlanta-based Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., on behalf of employees in the company’s Colorado stores (Civil Action No. 04 D 1776; U.S. District of Colorado).

If the settlement is approved by a U.S. District Judge in Colorado, Home Depot will pay $5.5 million to current and former employees, as well as significant injunctive relief.

The EEOC lawsuit alleges that in Home Depot’s Colorado stores, there was a hostile work environment based on gender, race, and national origin, and that the company retaliated against employees who complained about discrimination.

“We commend Home Depot for working cooperatively with us to resolve this case,” said Joseph Mitchell, regional attorney in the EEOC’s Denver District Office. “Without the willingness of Home Depot to mediate and bring prompt closure, this case could have taken years to litigate. Instead, the parties were able to work collaboratively to bring this matter to an amicable resolution that satisfied the interests of all the parties concerned.”

The proposed Consent Decree, a voluntary agreement between EEOC and Home Depot, provides for $3 million to resolve charges of discrimination filed by 38 individuals, and an additional $2.5 million in a class settlement fund to provide relief for other individuals who were harmed by the alleged unlawful conduct.

Upon approval of the Decree, claim forms will be sent to former and current employees who were employed at the company’s stores in Colorado between Jan. 1, 2000, and the date of the approved Decree.

Those complainants deemed eligible may receive monetary awards as determined by EEOC and approved by the Court. EEOC anticipates that the class settlement fund will be ready to accept claims by Nov. 1, 2004.

In addition to the monetary relief, the Consent Decree calls for Home Depot to do the following:

* Provide training on the requirements of anti-discrimination laws, with appropriate levels of information presented to non-supervisory employees, managers, and human resource employees.
* Appoint an EEO Coordinator to insure compliance with the Consent Decree and oversee the company’s investigation of employee complaints of discrimination.
* Submit quarterly reports to the EEOC, and remain under continued monitoring by the EEOC for a period of 30 months.

Home Depot denies the allegations in the complaint filed by the EEOC.