The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Wednesday that Rafael’s Italian Restaurant has agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.
The EEOC’s lawsuit claimed that male kitchen employees at the Tullahoma restaurant repeatedly subjected female workers, including teenage girls, to sexual harassment. According to the allegations, the women were touched inappropriately, endured sexual comments, and requests for sex. The women reported this behavior to restaurant management, but their complaints were ignored.
Sexual harassment attorneys are aware that
sexual harassment allegations often go ignored in a workplace. When this happens they will aggressively pursue the employers who take no action to put an end to the harassment.
In addition to paying the EEOC $25,000 to settle the suit, Rafael’s will also begin an annual sexual harassment training program. They will also have to maintain records for
sexual harassment complaints and provide annual reports to the EEOC.
The reason employers refuse to address sexual harassment complaints can be perplexing. Often they may not believe the allegations or think that the harassment victims are being too sensitive. An employer may not realize how harmful any form harassment can be to all their employees, not just the people being harassed. Sexual harassment attorneys understand how much this behavior affects the victim and co-workers, which is why they fight diligently to obtain compensation for their clients.
