A former employee at Exel’s Fairburn facility is being represented by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a sexual harassment law suit filed Sept. 7.

The suit charges that Darius Baugh was unlawfully fired in retaliation for reporting male-on-male sexual harassment, according to EEOC’s Regional Attorney for the Atlanta District Robert Dawkins.

According to the EEOC suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Excel Corporation violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by firing Darius Baugh from his job as a fork lift operator at Exel's Fairburn location after Baugh filed a formal charge of sexual harassment with the EEOC. Baugh had complained to his supervisors at Exel that he had been harassed by a male co-worker.

"Darius Baugh acted within his legal rights when he filed a charge with the EEOC, and should not be punished for that," Dawkins said. "The EEOC is committed to preventing and correcting this type of unlawful retaliatory behavior by employers. Employees must be able to report incidences of employment discrimination without fear of losing their jobs."

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who engage in statutorily protected activity such as reporting or opposing sexual harassment in the workplace. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement.

According to Exel’s website, the Westerville, Ohio-based warehouse and distribution company provides contract logistics services, global forwarding through its sister company DHL, consultancy, information and other services. Exel has over 300 locations nationwide, including 14 facilities in the Atlanta region.