A preliminary internal investigation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that Corey Coleman, FEMA personnel chief, sexually harassed women and created an atmosphere of widespread sexual harassment over the years. Coleman allegedly had sexually encounters with two female subordinates. When one ended her relationship with him, he allegedly pressured her for dates, denied her a promotion, and tried to fire her. For the other, he allegedly created a new position for which she was unqualified, and allowed her to work from his house. He also allegedly hired friends and college fraternity brothers and women he met at bars and on online dating sites, promoting some of them without going through proper federal hiring channels, and transferring some of the women in and out of departments, some to regional offices, so his friends could try to have sexual relationships with them.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits sexual harassment which it considers discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that make for a hostile work environment. If you have been a victim of sexual harassment at FEMA or at your workplace, please contact us to explore your legal options.