AGREES TO PAY $60K TO RESOLVE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT CLAIMS
Two companies, which own the Amerigo Italian Restaurant (out in Memphis, Tenn), have agreed to settle a discrimination and relation lawsuit which had been filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Apparently, an employee was subjected to a “hostile work environment and discrimination” because of his sexual orientation and was fired after complaining about the mistreatment.
Believing that such conducted violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division, (EEOC v. J.H.S. Holdings, LLC, and 4Top Hospitality Group, Inc., d/b/a Amerigo Italian Restaurant, Case No. 2:23-cv-02604-SHL-cgc,), seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.
In addition to a $60,000 payment, the companies have agreed to modify their employment related policies and practices and will regularly report sexual harassment and retaliation complaints to the agency.
In a written statement, Faye Williams, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Memphis District Office, noted that, “All employees should be able to work in an environment free of discrimination irrespective of their sexual orientation, and that includes discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation …. Employers break the law when they fail to stop discrimination they find in the workplace. The EEOC applauds Amerigo’s owners, who agreed to cooperate with us and take steps to prevent future discrimination of this sort.”
Looks like that Amerigo mapped out a pretty decent deal.
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EEOC PRESS RELEASE ~ 04-30-2024