A woman has filed a lawsuit accusing Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA Inc. of sexual discrimination in the form of wage disparity.
Brittany Simoneaux filed her complaint in federal court against TPR, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies.
In the complaint, Simoneaux accuses TPR of paying her less than her male subordinate despite holding a higher position within the company. She says held various positions at TPR's plant in Carville before being promoted to Traffic Group Leader in November 2022, a role that included three direct reporting subordinates. Despite this, she says her pay was less than that of Brandon Bouquet, a male employee she hired as her Traffic and Materials Supervisor.
The lawsuit seeks to restrain the unlawful payment of wages to employees of one sex at rates less than those paid to employees of the opposite sex. It also seeks monetary relief and other damages for violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Louisiana laws prohibiting intentional discrimination.
Simoneaux had previously filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on October 5, 2023. The EEOC issued a Right to Sue Letter regarding Simoneaux's discrimination charge on January 17, 2024.