Florida Employer Will Pay Nearly $1.5 Million in Sex Discrimination Case

On January 13th, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) confirmed that a Florida employer will pay nearly $1.5 million as part of a workplace sex discrimination case. Kane’s Furniture, LLC—a furniture company with headquarters in Pinellas Park, FL—reportedly refused to hire female applicants for delivery and warehouse positions. In this article, you will find a more comprehensive overview of the EEOC workplace sex discrimination case.

 Discrimination Claim: Employer Refuses to Consider Female Applicants

The EEOC filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against Kane’s Furniture, LLC. The company operates several locations in Florida, including warehouses and distribution facilities. It was accused of discriminatory hiring practices. More specifically, the federal employment lawsuit alleged that since at least 2021, the company has implemented a policy that systematically excluded female candidates from certain positions—including as delivery drivers and warehouse workers. There was an explicit gender-based screening process by recruiters not only marginalized qualified female applicants but also violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

 Settlement: Company Will Pay Damages and Revised Employment Practices 

To resolve the allegations of sex discrimination, Kane’s Furniture, LLC agreed to a large settlement with the EEOC. The agreement includes a monetary payment of approximately $1.48 million to the affected class of female applicants who were passed over for positions at the company despite meeting qualifications. Further, sex discrimination settlement also requires the company to make significant changes to its employment practices to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex/gender from happening in the future.  Under the three-year consent decree, Kane’s Furniture, LLC is required to overhaul its hiring protocols, implement new policies, and engage an independent expert to oversee compliance.

 Hiring Decisions Should Not Be Made On Sex-Based Stereotypes 

No job applicant should be held back from workplace opportunities that they are qualified for on the basis of their sex or gender. In Florida, there are federal and state laws that require employers with 15 or more employees to avoid any gender-based discrimination and sex-based discrimination in hiring and recruitment. Hiring decisions should be made based on a specific job applicant’s actual qualifications—not on stereotypes that are based on their gender or sex.

The case against Kane’s Furniture, LLC serves as a critical reminder that employers can be held legally liable for discriminatory hiring decisions. Despite advancements in employment law and increased awareness of gender equality, too many employers continue to exhibit discriminatory biases. The settlement serves as a precedent and a warning to all employers that gender discrimination in hiring is illegal and contrary to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

 Get Help From a Florida Sex Discrimination Lawyer Today 

Sex discrimination cases are complicated. An employer in Florida may be liable for unlawful practices that constitute sex/gender discrimination. If you have any specific questions or concerns about a sex discrimination claim, please do not hesitate to speak to a Florida employment lawyer.