Former health center employee sues over alleged sexual harassment
A woman who worked as a certified nurse’s aide for Washington County Health Center for six years claimed in a lawsuit that sexual harassment drove her from her job.
Sheearla Satterfield of Washington began working as a per diem certified nurse’s aide at the health center in Arden, Chartiers Township, in May 2010 and was promoted to full-time status four months later.
In a suit filed last week in Washington County Court, she claimed she was harassed by another aide who allegedly called her “chocolate,” touched her, made remarks of a sexual nature and told her “he had stuck bananas between the legs of four sleeping residents.”
Satterfield said she first complained in January 2016 to the county’s human resources department about her co-worker’s behavior. She said she told the director of nursing about the reported prank involving bananas and asked to be transferred to avoid further contact with the man.
“It was not until (Satterfield) involved her union stewards that Washington County became willing to transfer” her, according to the complaint.
She asked that her name be removed from the time clock to keep the co-worker from learning her work schedule, but she said her name remained on view. She also asked she be allowed to enter through a door that is normally locked. In her complaint, Satterfield stated she was given permission, but not a key.
She said she complained about her co-worker’s behavior to Washington County Human Resources Director Kathleen Bali in 2016, but that she eventually had to leave her employment to avoid further harassment. She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is requesting a jury trial.
Bali could not immediately be reached for comment.
“I don’t think that’s even come across my desk at all,” Washington County solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven said Tuesday. “I’m not familiar with the matter. Once we are served, we will refer it to the appropriate insurance defense counsel.”
Washington County no longer owns or operates the health center, having sold it this year to Premier Healthcare LLC of Philadelphia for approximately $27 million.