Burger King Sexual-Harassment Case Settles for $150,000

A Burger King franchisee agreed to pay $150,000 to a former employee to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the lawsuit, a supervisor repeatedly harassed a teenage crew member. The crew member complained to management but, according to the lawsuit, her complaints were ignored. She finally quit in order to protect herself.

In addition to paying $150,000, the franchisee, which operates about 30 Burger King restaurants, agreed to submit regular reports to the EEOC about any sexual harassment complaints, to institute a comprehensive non-discrimination policy and complaint procedure, and to conduct training for staff and management.

In the Burger King case, the harassment allegedly continued for two years. According to the EEOC, the crew member, who was 17 years old when she started working at the Oregon restaurant, was “relentlessly” pursued by her older, married supervisor. The harassment included both outrageous comments, including asking her how much she charged for sex, and unwanted touching. The supervisor followed the crew member around the store and into the parking lot during her breaks. He ordered her not to complain to management.

“This case involved serious allegations of sexual harassment and the failure to protect a young worker,” an EEOC spokesperson said. “Companies across this region must realize that they will be held liable for the mistreatment of their employees by their managers.”

Employee training is a critical step in preventing and stopping sexual harassment. WeComply’s online sexual harassment training courses for employees and managers, including special courses for supervisors in California, Connecticut and Canada, teach employees the crucial concepts they need to know to recognize real-world issues and respond to them appropriately. 

Categories: Discrimination & Harassment Compliance
Tags: Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, sexual harassment