SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS TO PAY $625,000 FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, RETALIATION

EEOC Says Restaurant Chain Punished Female Employees Who Complained

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Equal  Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the resolution of its  class action employment discrimination lawsuit against Specialty Restaurants  Corporation, an Anaheim, Calif.-based owner and operator of restaurants and  banquet facilities nationwide, including Monterey Hill Banquets in Monterey Park, Calif. Under the EEOC settlement, the company has  agreed to pay $625,000 to claimants and will adopt remedial measures to ensure  that its employees are not sexually harassed.

In its suit, the EEOC alleged that  female workers were subjected to inappropriate touching, indecent and offensive  comments, and other forms of sexually harassing conduct by co-workers and  supervisors. In addition, at least one  female employee was harassed based on her national origin. The federal agency further  alleged that Specialty retaliated against both male and female employees who  reported the harassment or cooperated with investigations.

“We commend the victims in this  case for reporting the harassment,” said Regional Attorney Anna Y. Park of the  EEOC's Los Angeles District Office. “We  also applaud the witnesses who, although not the direct targets of harassment, stepped  forward to defend their co-workers.”

EEOC Los Angeles District Director  Olophius Perry added, "Harassment and retaliation affect far too many  workers in the service industries. Every employer has a duty to protect its  workforce from harassment. Specialty's  willingness to change its policies and practices should serve as an example to  the entire industry.”

In Fiscal Year 2007, sexual  harassment charge filings with the EEOC and state/local agencies increased for  the first time since FY 2000, numbering 12,510 – up 4% from the prior fiscal  year’s total of 12,025. Retaliation  charges increased 18% in FY 2007 to a record high level of 26,663, up from  22,555 in FY 2006. Retaliation is now  the second most frequent charge filing with the EEOC.

The EEOC  enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further  information about the EEOC is available on the agency’s web site at www.eeoc.gov.