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Santa Cruz County farmworker reaches settlement after sexual assault

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$100,000 compensation for sexually assaulted farm worker in Watsonville

The California Department of Civil Rights announced Tuesday that a settlement has been reached after a seasonal worker was allegedly sexually assaulted at a Santa Cruz County farm. According to the department, Ayoquezco Farms, based in Watsonville, reached a $100,000 settlement with a woman who was hired as a seasonal strawberry picker. The settlement still needs court approval, the department said. If approved, the proposed settlement would require Ayoquezco Farms to “implement new policies and procedures to prevent future instances of sexual harassment in the workplace.” “Sexual harassment is unacceptable and unlawful in every single workplace in California,” said Kevin Kish, director of the Department of Civil Rights. “It takes courage to speak out, and if you come forward, our team at the Department of Civil Rights is committed to standing up for all residents of our state.” This settlement sets strict requirements to prevent future discrimination at Ayoquezco Farms and makes it clear that harassment has consequences.” In 2021, CRD received a complaint against Ayoquezco Farms and its owners alleging sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. The complaint alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment by the owner just days after she was hired in 2018. If approved, CRD said, the settlement would require Ayoquezco Farms to: develop and implement company policies and complaint procedures regarding harassment, discrimination, or retaliation within 90 days; establish and implement investigation policies for handling and investigating complaints of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; distribute information about the new policies and reporting procedures to all employees within 30 days of the start of each new strawberry picking season; train all managerial and non-managerial employees on the new policies and on protections against harassment, discrimination or retaliation under state and federal law; report to CRD for five years on compliance with the terms of the settlement; pay the plaintiff $90,000 in compensation for alleged damages and $10,000 to cover legal fees related to the litigation.

SACRAMENTO, California —

The California Department of Civil Rights announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached after a seasonal worker was allegedly sexually assaulted on a farm in Santa Cruz County.

According to CRD, a $100,000 settlement was reached between Watsonville-based Ayoquezco Farms and a woman who was hired there as a seasonal strawberry picker.

The settlement is still subject to court approval, the CRD said. If approved, the proposed settlement would require Ayoquezco Farms to “implement new policies and procedures to prevent future incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace.”

“Sexual harassment is unacceptable and illegal in any workplace in California,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “It takes courage to speak up, and if you do speak up, our team at the Department of Civil Rights is committed to standing up for all residents of our state. This settlement sets a strong foundation to prevent future discrimination at Ayoquezco Farms and makes it clear that harassment has consequences.”

In 2021, CRD received a complaint against Ayoquezco Farms and its owner, accusing them of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.

The complaint states that just days after being hired in 2018, she was sexually harassed by the owner and encountered a hostile work environment.

If approved, CRD said, the settlement would require Ayoquezco Farms to:

  • Develop and implement company policies and grievance procedures regarding harassment, discrimination or retaliation within 90 days.
  • Establish and implement investigation policies for handling and investigating complaints of unlawful harassment, discrimination or retaliation.
  • Distribute information about the new policies and reporting procedures to all employees within 30 days of the start of each new strawberry harvest season.
  • Train all managerial and non-managerial employees on the new policies and on protections against harassment, discrimination or retaliation under state and federal law.
  • Report to the CRD on compliance with the terms of the settlement over a period of five years.
  • Paying the plaintiff $90,000 in compensation for alleged damages and $10,000 to cover legal fees associated with the litigation.

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