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Welcome to the EEOC's Virtual Newsroom, which offers a wide range of information and materials on the Commission's history, functions, procedures, programs, actions and staff, on the statutes we enforce, and on related research, data and statistics. We encourage everyone to browse and search through our continually updated Press Kit, which provides extensive background and context for virtually any question.

To contact The Office of Communications, please phone 202-921-3191 or send an e-mail to newsroom@eeoc.gov. Please note, this e-mailbox is intended for reporters, news producers, those writing for news publication and broadcasts, and other people working on news programs or stories.

If you are seeking information about the EEOC, please call 1-800-669-4000 or e-mail info@eeoc.gov.

 

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Displaying 97 - 120 of 644 results for 'restaurant'

Press release

Liberty Warehouse and Restaurant Group to Pay $125,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Suit

NEW YORK – A restaurant group that includes Liberty Warehouse, a popular Brooklyn, N.Y. wedding venue, agreed to pay $125,000 and provide extensive non-monetary relief to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.  That restaurant group includes the Manhattan restaurants and event spaces called The Water Club, The River Café, and Pershing Square.   

According to the EEOC, Liberty Warehouse’s head chef subjected

September 17, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Arizona Subway Franchise for Disability Discrimination

PHOENIX – RCC Partners, LLC, doing business as Subway 701 in Buckeye, Arizona, violated federal law when it failed to accommodate an employee with autism and ADHD and then fired because he had a disability and/or need for accommodation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed on Friday.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Subway 701 hired Kenneth Wiley in 2019 after his mother explained to the restaurant that Wiley needed

September 13, 2021

Press release

Bourne’s House Sued by EEOC for Pregnancy Discrimination

NEW ORLEANS – Bourne’s House, LLC, doing business as Bourne’s House Restaurant, violated federal law when it fired and then later refused to rehire a worker because she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed September 8, 2021.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a manager at the company’s Franklinton, Louisiana, restaurant fired the newly-hired worker after sending her a social media message saying, “I'm not gonna be able

September 10, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues JDKD Enterprises for Disability Discrimination

PHILADELPHIA — JDKD Enterprises, LP, a Sewell-New Jersey limited partnership that owns and operates numerous McDonald’s franchises in New Jersey, violated federal law when it fired a grill cook due to his disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

According to the suit, a grill cook who has autism spectrum disorder worked at McDonald’s for 37 years, including for about ten years at a McDonald’s restaurant in

September 2, 2021

Press release

First Watch Resolves Employment Discrimination Charges with EEOC

NORFOLK, Va. -- First Watch, a restaurant chain headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, has agreed to conciliate employment discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

Without admitting liability, First Watch agreed to enter into a two-year conciliation agreement with the EEOC. The company agreed to pay an undisclosed amount in compensatory damages to settle the charge.

First Watch has committed to preventing harassment by providing training to all

August 25, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Applebee’s Franchisee for Sexual Orientation and Race Discrimination, Retaliation and Constructive Discharge

TAMPA, Fla. – Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida, LLC, doing business as Applebee’s, violated federal law by subjecting an employee to race and sexual orientation discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today. The EEOC charges that the Plant City, Fla., Applebee’s subjected a Black line cook to a hostile work environment based on his sexual orientation and race and retaliated against him for complaining, leading to his being forced

August 12, 2021

Press release

Chipotle to Pay $70,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Case

TAMPA, Fla. – Chipotle Services LLC, doing business as Chipotle Mexican Grill, a Mexican-style fast food chain, has agreed to pay $70,000 in damages and furnish other relief in order to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s suit, a male Chipotle crew person repeatedly made sexually offensive remarks about the body of a female Chipotle service manager at its International

August 9, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Long John Silver’s for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

CHICAGO – Long John Silver’s violated federal law when it subjected female employees at its Centralia, Ill., restaurant to sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today. The federal agency said that the company failed to stop harassment by two male restaurant employees and also retaliated against one female employee who objected to the harassment.

The EEOC’s pre-suit investigation revealed that two male supervisors subjected female employees

June 28, 2021

Press release

EEOC Obtains Judgment Ordering Ceviche House to Pay $130,691 for Sexual Harassment

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – A federal court has ordered a San Juan restaurant to pay $130,691 in a sexual harassment and retaliation discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency announced today. The EEOC had charged Limeños Corporation, doing business as Ceviche House, a restaurant in the Isla Verde area of San Juan, with violating federal law when an owner and general manager subjected a female server to sexual

June 23, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Long Island Diner to Stop Owners’ Harassment of Female Employees

NEW YORK – Stardust Diners, Inc., a restaurant that has operated for decades in East Meadow, Nassau County, N.Y., under the name Colony Diner, violated federal law by subjecting its female employees to harassment on the basis of sex, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to the EEOC’s suit, the Colony Diner’s owners and other male employees created, encouraged and tolerated a work environment in which female

June 3, 2021

Press release

El Vallarta Restaurants to Pay $85,000 to Teen Harassed by Supervisor

ST. LOUIS – A small chain of Nebraska restaurants will pay $85,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. The EEOC alleged El Vallarta violated federal discrimination law by allowing a manager and other workers at its Gretna, Neb., location to sexually harass a teenage female employee.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the male manager grabbed the young

April 23, 2021

Press release

Bay Club to Pay $500,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

SAN DIEGO – The Bay Club Company, an operator of approximately 24 resort-style athletic facilities and country clubs with golf, tennis, swimming, restaurant and bar amenities in California and Oregon, has agreed to pay $500,000 and provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In July 2016, Bay Club assumed operational control of Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho

April 21, 2021

Press release

Lucy’s Cantina Royale and Restaurant Group to Pay $45,000 to Settle Pregnancy Discrimination Suit

NEW YORK – A restaurant group that includes Lucy’s Cantina Royale, a Mexican restaurant and bar in Manhattan, has agreed to pay $45,000 and provide extensive non-monetary relief to settle a preg­nancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. That restaurant group includes the managing companies Host Restaurants and Imian Partners; the Manhattan restaurants Bill’s Townhouse, Campagnola, Galli, Local NYC, Lucy’s Cantina Royale, and Printer’s Alley

March 24, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Virginia IHOP Owner for Sexual Harassment and Constructive Discharge

BALTIMORE – Koerner Management Group, Inc., doing business as IHOP (KMG), a Virginia based corporation that owns 12 IHOP restaurant franchises, subjected women, including teen workers, to sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) agency charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a manager at KMG’s IHOP restaurant in Frederick, Md., subjected a group of female employees to unwanted advances and touching, including asking teen workers to show

March 16, 2021

Press release

Medford Restaurant to Pay $120,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Suit

MEDFORD, Ore. — The restaurant New China will pay $120,000 and provide other signifi­cant relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

The EEOC’s lawsuit charged that New China’s male restaurant manager repeatedly targeted female employees ages 15-20 with sexual comments and inappropriate touching that escalated from unwanted hugs to groping. In his 50s, the manager mostly worked the night shift. Because he

February 10, 2021

Press release

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Will Pay $15,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

BALTIMORE -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, a major restaurant chain, will pay $15,000 and provide significant equitable relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's suit, an applicant who is deaf applied online for the position of dishwasher. When he appeared for his scheduled interview at the restaurant’s Linthicum Heights, Md., store, however, he was turned away

February 5, 2021

Press release

Georgina’s / Anthony’s Little G’s to Pay $200,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment / Retaliation Suit

DETROIT – Traverse City restaurant Georgina’s LLC, and its successor, Anthony’s Little G’s, will pay $200,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency announced today.

The EEOC charged that Georgina’s owner repeatedly made lewd sexual comments to a female sous chef. The agency alleged that when the sous chef complained to a manager, the owner stripped her of authority

February 4, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Route 22 Sports Bar, Inc. and Crazy Mexican Restaurant & Grill, LLC for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

WEIRTON, W.V. – Route 22 Sports Bar, Inc. and Crazy Mexican Restaurant & Grill, LLC, two restaurants in Weirton, W.V., subjected female workers to sexual harassment and fired a bartender for reporting it, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a male owner of the two restaurants subjected a female bartender to sexual harassment, including propositioning her for sex, making sexually offensive statements

January 12, 2021

Press release

EEOC Sues Route 22 Sports Bar, Inc. And Crazy Mexican Restaurant & Grill, LLC For Sexual Harassment And Retaliation

WEIRTON, W.V. – Route 22 Sports Bar, Inc. and Crazy Mexican Restaurant & Grill, LLC, two restaurants in Weirton, W.V., subjected female workers to sexual harassment and fired a bartender for reporting it, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a male owner of the two restaurants subjected a female bartender to sexual harassment, including propositioning her for sex, making sexually offensive statements

January 11, 2021

Press release

Northwest Indiana Fast Food Restaurant Sued by EEOC for Disability Discrimination

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A northern Indiana fast food restaurant violated federal law by rescinding its job offer and failing to accommodate an applicant with a disability it initially hired, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, HZ Ops Holdings, Inc., which owns and operates Popeye’s in Griffith, Ind., refused to complete onboarding of an employee it initially hired. The

January 5, 2021

Press release

1618 Concepts to Pay $30,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

GREENSBORO, N.C. – 1618 Concepts, Inc., 1618 Downtown, Inc., and Northern Lights Inc., collect­ively operating as “1618 Concepts” restaurant group in Greensboro, North Carolina, agreed to pay $30,000 and provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s complaint, Peter Matusik, a dishwasher at the restaurant group’s 1618 Downtown location, was sexually harassed by a male coworker

December 18, 2020

Press release

Protocol Restaurant to Pay $90,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment Suit

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Protocol of Amherst, Inc., doing business as Protocol Restaurant in Buffalo, will pay $90,000 and take other steps to settle a sex harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Paul Pelczynski, the restaurant’s owner and general manager, sexually harassed female employees by, among other things, engaging in numerous instances of inappro­priate physical contact. The EEOC charged that Protocol

December 10, 2020

Press release

Smashburger to Pay $70,000 to Settle Race Harassment Lawsuit

NEW YORK – Icon Burger Acquisition, LLC, an international hamburger restaurant chain operating under the name Smashburger, has agreed to pay $70,000 and implement substantial non-monetary measures to settle a race harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a Smashburger manager in Long Island, N.Y., subjected an African American employee to a racially hostile work environment, frequently referring to him by

November 24, 2020

Press release

Locos Grill & Pub to Pay $20,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit

ATLANTA -- A restaurant management company operating the Locos Grill & Pub, The Derby, Tavern House, and Central City Tavern brands of restaurants in Georgia will pay $20,000 and provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor­tunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.  

The EEOC’s suit charged that Locos Grill & Pub violated federal anti-discrimination law when a male cook made sexual advances

October 30, 2020