Workplace Hazards - Saturday, August 9, 2008 13:42 - 0 Comments

McDonald’s Settles Sexual-Harrasment Lawsuit

Durango, a McDonald’s franchise in Durango, Colorado, will pay $505,000 to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit brought by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of several teenagers who worked there. The settlement was approved by a U.S. District Court judge in Denver. According to the complaint, four teenagers were subjected to egregious sexual harassment at the Durango McDonald’s by their 24-year-old supervisor. The alleged harassment began in December 2003 and continued for several months.

Under terms of the settlement, the franchise will pay $450,000 to two of the victims who were represented by a lawyer. An additional $55,000 will be distributed to the two other victims represented by the EEOC. In addition to monetary relief, the franchise must provide sex-discrimination training that will be monitored for three years and post notices of non-discrimination in the workplace. The defendants were identified as Colorado Hamburger Co., Farmington Hamburger Co., and Jobec Inc., the latter of which does business as McDonald’s in Durango. The owner of the local McDonald’s franchise was required to write letters of apology to the victims.

Source: Herald