The company, Canyon Rent to Own, denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay a total of $71,000 to assistant store manager trainee Kelly Blanchard and office administrator Karin Ho. The company also agreed to commit to a "zero-tolerance policy against sex and national origin discrimination and retaliation, to review its complain procedures, and to provide anti-harassment training to all of its employees," according to a press release from the EEOC.

The suit was filed by the EEOC in Sept. 2004 in U.S. District Court for Hawai'i after the agency investigated a charge of discrimination, found it had merit, and first attempted to reach a voluntary pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

Safeway to expand seafood mercury warnings in stores nationwide

Safeway, the nation's fifth largest grocery store chain, announced today that it has expanded its mercury in seafood health warnings to its stores nationwide.

Previously, Safeway only posted mercury in fish warnings in California, as required under state law Proposition 65. Now, women and children in Safeway stores will receive fish advisories at seafood counters based on an existing federal health advisory.

"Safeway customers who have questions about mercury in seafood issue will have the opportunity to make seafood choices with confidence," said Eli Saddler, attorney and public health specialist with GotMercury.org of Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Since 2002, Turtle Island Restoration Network, an environmental and health nonprofit, has been harnessing public support and California law to accomplish the posting of mercury in seafood warning signs, in California and nationwide. Saddler said he believes Safeway's decision comes as a response to customer concerns, as well as ongoing pressure from the public and environmental groups.