Sexual harassment in the workplace is a very serious matter. Such harassment can cause employees to suffer a great deal of harm. Thus, it is very important for employers to take proper steps to ensure that their employees are not subjected to such harassment.
A settlement was recently reached in a case involving allegations of workplace sexual harassment. The case involved a restaurant in Illinois. The restaurant was accused of having subjected a group of women who worked as hostesses and waitresses for the restaurant to sexual harassment.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged that employees (including some managers) of the restaurant committed sexually harassing conduct against the above-mentioned women, such as touching them in an inappropriate manner and making inappropriate sexual comments towards them.
A lawsuit was brought by the EEOC in a federal court against the restaurant in connection to these allegations. According to a press release on the EEOC’s website, this lawsuit was recently settled. It has been reported that, as part of this settlement, the restaurant has agreed to provide anti-discrimination training to its employees. The restaurant has also reportedly agreed to make a monetary payment to the above-mentioned women.
No employee should have to face sexual harassment like that which was alleged in this recently settled case. Thus, one hopes that all employers make sure to take proper steps to protect their employees from workplace sexual harassment. One also hopes that employers are held accountable when they subject their employees to sexual harassment.
Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “Jimmy’s Charhouse of Elgin Pays $205,000 to Resolve EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit,” Feb. 21, 2012