A former waitress at a restaurant in Merrill, Wisconsin, has sued her ex-employer for allegedly permitting sexual harassment.
The plaintiff, whose lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claims a cook created a hostile environment when he continuously made lewd comments and aggressive actions toward waitresses. Furthermore, despite multiple complaints from workers, the restaurant’s owner made no disciplanary actions against the cook. The lawsuit also states that some women were fired in retaliation for complaining.
The lawsuit seeks lost wages and compensatory and punitive damages for an undisclosed number of former female employees.
The restaurant’s owner has declined to comment on the allegations, however, he did state that the aforementioned cook has not worked at the location for more than a year. According to a report from the Wausau Daily Herald, the cook had plead no contest to battery charges against three waitresses in 2009, and a number of other charges had also been filed against the worker.
This case shows how important it is for companies of any size to institute, adhere to and monitor proper business practices. Failure to enforce such regulations can lead to expensive lawsuits citing a company’s professional liability.
