FEMALE WORKERS WERE SUBJECTED TO UNWANTED TOUCHING, SEX-BASED REMARKS AND ADVANCES
In a press release dated May 17, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced it had filed suit against Swami’s Café and Honey’s Bistro, a casual restaurant chain, for employee related sexual harassment and retaliation.
Apparently, beginning back in 2019, female employees, including some teenagers, were subjected to sexual harassment by co-workers and management. In addition to unwanted touching, there were “sex-based remarks and advances.” Those who voiced complaints were subject to retaliation, including being “forced to quit.”
Because such conduct was allegedly violative of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC commenced civil litigation (EEOC v. Swami’s 101 LLC, et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00902-LAB-NLS) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, seeking compensatory and punitive damages, together with injunctive relief enjoining the misbehavior,
In a written statement, Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, noted, “We are seeing more cases involving younger workers who may not be aware of their rights, or may be hesitant to report harassment, because this is their first time in the workforce …. Employers should take greater care to ensure young workers are protected in the workplace by having effective policies and procedures, training, and accountability measures in place.”
Think this Swami needs to master its HR issues?
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