WORKERS WERE EXPOSED TO “SEXUAL TOUCHING AND COMMENTS BY A CO-WORKER”
A Honolulu- based Mexican eating establishment, known as “Mexico Restaurant,” recently agreed to pay $227,000 to resolve allegations of sexual and racial harassment and retaliation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced.
Apparently, female workers were “subjected to repeated sexual touching and comments by a co-worker.” And when one victim reported the misconduct, she allegedly experienced “retaliatory harassment,” and was “constructively discharged.” Despite complaints, the company failed to take appropriate corrective action.
Believing that such conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii (Case No.: 1:22-cv-00430-JAO-RT). In addition to monetary relief, the company has agreed to modify its workplace policies and practices.
In a written statement, Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District, which includes Hawaii in its jurisdiction, noted that, “We continue to see employers failing to either recognize the warning signs of harassment or retaliation or failing to respond altogether to reports of the same …. We cannot stress enough that employers in the restaurant and hospitality industries must ensure that they comply with federal anti-discrimination laws.”
That’s a heck of a lot enchiladas, my friends.
# # #