Lawsuit Seeks Equal Pay For Woman

SOCI Petroleum/Santmyer Oil Company has been charged by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of violating federal equal pay laws by paying a female employee less than the male predecessor in her position for performing substantially the same work.  The EEOC’s Complaint states that in 2009 Lori Bowersock, who had worked for SOCI in Wooster, Ohio since 2006, replaced the former male human resources manager but was paid less than him.  The Complaint also alleges that SOCI condoned derogatory remarks made to female employees and that its gave female employees less credit for their accomplishments than their male counterparts.  These alleged actions violate the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  EEOC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division.  The EEOC seeks permanent injunctive relief to prohibit SOCI from future discrimination by providing equal pay to women for equal work, access to equal employment opportunities for women, lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages.  See EEOC v. SOCI Petroleum/Santmyer Oil Co., No. 5:15-cv-02017 (N.D. Ohio).