MN Printing Company Let Boss Sexually Harass 2 Employees: State

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Department of Human Rights on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Sheridan — formerly known as Bang Printing — for violating Minnesota’s civil rights law.

State investigators found that Sheridan, which is based in Brainerd, "failed to meaningfully stop a supervisor from using his position of power to repeatedly sexually harass and assault two employees."

As part of the lawsuit, the state said it is seeking compensation for two employees in addition to structural change so that all employees at Sheridan are provided a work environment that is free from sexual harassment and assault.

"Sheridan knew a supervisor was sexually harassing and assaulting its employees and, through willful inaction, gave this supervisor a license to sexually harass its employees," said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.

"There cannot be a meaningful end to sexual harassment when those who are in positions of power to end it deliberately do nothing. That is why our Department will use the full power of Minnesota’s civil rights law to push employers to be active participants in addressing and preventing sexual harassment from occurring in the first place."

"We’re pursuing this lawsuit because we hope it makes a difference in preventing sexual harassment and assault from occurring in the future," said the two employees in a state news release. They remain anonymous to protect their identities, investigators said.

In June 2020, according to the state, a supervisor at Sheridan began sexually harassing and assaulting two employees, involving regular unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted touching, and offensive comments.

In July 2020, one of the employees filed a complaint against the supervisor, but Sheridan "did nothing," failing to investigate, discipline, or put any new measures in place to prevent future harassment.

As a result, Sheridan allowed the sexual harassment and assault to continue, the state claims.

In October 2020, the second employee quit because the harassment and assault continued, and because Sheridan would not stop it, according to investigators.

In January 2021, Sheridan promoted the supervisor. Learning of this, the first employee submitted another complaint.

This time, Sheridan responded by issuing a verbal warning to the supervisor, but took no further action, and the supervisor continued to sexually harass the employee in their promoted role, the state said.

In May 2021, the state informed Sheridan that charges of discrimination were filed against the company by the two employees and that a state investigation would begin.

After learning of this, Sheridan began its own investigation and eventually fired the supervisor in July 2021, the state said.

In January 2023, investigators found that Sheridan violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act. After trying to resolve the case with Sheridan, the state decided to file a lawsuit, investigators said.

Patch has reached out to Sheridan for comment.