FEDERAL AGENCY FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST COCA-COLA BOTTLER OVER MALE-EXCLUSION WORK EVENT. (PHOTO).

 Federal agency files lawsuit against Coca-Cola bottler over male-exclusion work event

A Coca-Cola distributor and bottler is facing a federal lawsuit over a corporate event that excluded men, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Wednesday.

The agency alleges that Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, which produces, sells, and distributes Coca-Cola products across the Northeastern U.S., violated federal law when it held a two-day networking retreat in Connecticut in September 2024, open only to female employees. According to the EEOC, the company invited women while excusing them from regular work duties and paid their normal salaries without requiring vacation or paid time off. No male employees were invited to the event, the agency said, which it claims violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

EEOC acting general counsel Catherine Eschbach emphasized that excluding men from employer-sponsored events constitutes a legal violation and said the agency will pursue litigation when necessary. She added that the EEOC is committed to ensuring equal access to workplace opportunities for all employees, regardless of sex, race, or other protected categories.

Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, headquartered in Bedford, New Hampshire, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit comes amid other federal investigations into workplace discrimination, including probes involving Nike and Northwestern Mutual related to diversity policies and alleged inequities in advancement.