The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is accusing Danville, Ky.-based Ephraim McDowell Health of denying an employee a promotion because of her sex and retaliating against her after she reported discrimination.
In a lawsuit filed March 27 in federal court, the EEOC alleges EMH's CEO told the employee, Shannon Long, she would not be selected for an administrator position at Stanford, Ky.-based Fort Logan Hospital "because of her sex, based on his belief that men do better with men and that it was best to have a man in the administrator position."
Ms. Long met all qualifications for the administrator role, including the educational requirements, but was appointed to a lower-paying position that reported to the newly promoted position. The male employee who was promoted to the administrator position did not meet existing education requirements, according to the EEOC.
The EEOC also alleges that after Ms. Long complained to the federal agency, EMH retaliated against her and ultimately fired her.
EMH shared the following statement with Becker's: "Ephraim McDowell Health is aware of the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ephraim McDowell has retained counsel to defend the lawsuit and will be filing a response denying the allegations. Ephraim McDowell Health is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against employees based on any protected class."
The lawsuit, filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, seeks back pay, front pay, and compensatory and punitive damages for Ms. Long.