Restaurant Ordered to Pay $75,000 to Workers Who Were Sexually Harassed By Restaurant Manager

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently reached a $75,000 settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit against an Illinois restaurant where a teenage hostess and two female cooks were allegedly harassed by the restaurant’s vice president. According to the Complaint filed in EEOC v. Tony’s Lounge, 08 Civ. 677 (WDS), the three female restaurant workers were victims of offensive sexual remarks and inappropriate sexual touching.  Furthermore, after the women complained of the unwelcome sexual advances, the restaurant failed to do anything about it, and the workers were forced to quit their jobs. In a press release issued by the EEOC, James R. Neely, Jr., District Director of the EEOC’s St. Louis’ District Office, stated that, “Teenage girls and young women are particularly susceptible to sexual harassment and are frequently targeted by sexual predators.  Whenever employers fail to protect their young employees, the EEOC will.” In addition to requiring the restaurant to pay $75,000 to the three former workers, the Consent Decree which settled this case also requires the restaurant to conduct sexual harassment training with managers and to implement a clear policy on preventing sexual harassment at the restaurant.