On Dec. 23, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) reached a $160,000 settlement with the Laguna Irrigation District in Fresno County. The settlement comes after allegations of workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. 

The CRD began its investigation of the Laguna Irrigation District after receiving a complaint from a former worker who said he was fired for reporting racist comments and sexual harassment by supervisors. According to the complaint, employees suffered verbal and physical harassment multiple times a week.  

“When workers have the courage to come forward, employers are required by law to take their complaints seriously,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish in a news release. “There is no place for bullying and harassment by your supervisors. This settlement will bring change workers at the Laguna Irrigation District deserve.”

As part of the settlement, the irrigation district will implement measures to improve its workplace culture. These include revising its employee complaint process to ensure in-depth investigations, hiring third-party investigators for certain cases and providing annual training for supervisors and HR personnel on civil rights laws and complaint handling.

The district will also start an employee assistance program to provide resources for workplace conflict resolution and counseling and to inform employees about their rights against discrimination and harassment.

Laguna Irrigation District provides Kings River surface irrigation water to more than 35,000 acres as of 2020. It serves a population of nearly 1,200 landowners from an office in Riverdale.