Eeoc Sues New Hampshire Coca‑Cola Distributor Over Men Excluded From Casino Work Trip

The Eeoc has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a regional Coca‑Cola bottler of sex discrimination after the company invited only female employees to a company‑sponsored two‑day networking trip at a casino resort in September 2024.

Eeoc files suit, says men were excluded from employer‑sponsored event

The agency brought the lawsuit in New Hampshire district court on behalf of a male employee who complained that the distributor held a two‑day networking event at the Mohegan Sun casino resort that invited roughly 250 women but excluded men. The complaint alleges the distributor paid lodging, meals and other benefits for attendees, excused them from regular work duties and paid their normal wages during the event, and that those arrangements amounted to unlawful exclusion of male employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In the court filing, the agency is seeking monetary relief for a class of men who were excluded, saying they suffered financial losses as well as emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish. The lawsuit challenges the practice of limiting an employer‑sponsored program to one sex when the employer covers travel, pay and other benefits.

Company pushes back; legal fight set for court

The distributor has pushed back on the agency's action, calling the agency's inquiry incomplete and saying it looks forward to presenting its full account in court. The company earlier described the gathering as its "first in‑person Women's Forum, " noting about 250 female associates attended and that speakers addressed navigating a male‑dominated industry and balancing work and personal life.

An attorney for the distributor told media representatives the agency did not conduct a proper investigation and that the company remains confident in its values and commitment to fairness. The attorney also said the company anticipates being vindicated after a court hears the facts.

Broader agency focus on workplace diversity practices

The lawsuit is part of a broader, more aggressive posture by the agency toward workplace diversity programming, per the agency's materials. The agency has flagged that practices such as trainings, employee resource groups and fellowship programs can, depending on how they are structured, raise legal concerns about discrimination. The agency also revealed it had begun an investigation of a major sportswear company two weeks earlier into allegations related to diversity policies.

The agency's acting general counsel issued a blunt statement exploring the legal line between inclusive programming and illegal exclusion: "Excluding men from an employer‑sponsored event is a Title VII violation that the EEOC will act to remedy through litigation when necessary. " The lawsuit underscores that assertion and brings the question to federal court in New Hampshire.

What to expect next

Officials say the agency pursued the matter after conciliation efforts with the distributor failed. With the complaint now filed, the case will proceed through the federal court process, where both sides will present evidence about the event's planning, who was invited and how employer resources were used. The lawsuit asks the court to remedy harms to the class of male employees the agency says were excluded.

As the legal challenge advances, the dispute highlights tensions between employer efforts to support underrepresented groups and the limits on employer‑sponsored programs when participation is restricted by sex. The distributor's insistence that it followed applicable guidance sets the stage for a broader legal test of where those lines fall.