Security firm to pay $1.6 million to settle sex discrimination class action

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Tuesday a Birmingham, Alabama-based contract security company agreed to pay $1.6 million to resolve a class action accusing it of discriminating against women since 2017.

The lawsuit, EEOC v. Security Engineers Inc., filed in federal court in Birmingham in September 2023, said the company had a directive in its human resources database saying women should not be assigned to specific posts. Also, Security Engineers personnel acknowledged the company would not select women for certain positions or posts based on their gender.

The EEOC said Security Engineers violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and sought relief for a class of women who were denied security officer employment opportunities based on their sex.

In addition to the monetary relief, Security Engineers is required to delete directives to not assign or hire women because of their sex.

Representatives for the parties did not respond to requests for comment.