A former employee from one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, which includes locations in Florida, is filing a lawsuit against the corporation for sexual misconduct. The plaintiff claims that one of her co-workers routinely grabbed areas of her body and put her in sexual poses. These allegations are part of a larger class-action lawsuit that claims the restaurant chain promotes a culture of sexual harassment.
According to lawyers representing some of the workers from the restaurant chain, there are at least 50 pending claims of harassment in courts or at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The CEO of the corporation was recently fired for having a consensual relationship with a subordinate. Advocates claim that this is an example of the type of environment the company creates among its workforce.
While the vast majority of restaurants for this large chain are operated by franchisees, plaintiffs claim that the parent corporation is ultimately responsible for the culture of harassment. The company has stated that it is making strives to reduce incidents of sexual misconduct among its own employees and with its franchisees. Advocates claim that the corporation isn’t doing enough to combat the systemic issues causing the problem.
Employees of both large and small companies have the right to work without experiencing sexual harassment. In some cases, filing a complaint with human resources or a boss is not enough to stop a problem, and seeking counsel from an attorney may be appropriate. A lawyer may set up an initial consultation to find out if pursuing legal action is in the best interests of the employee. Obtaining compensation for missed professional opportunities, retribution, lost wages and other losses might be possible through a settlement or lawsuit.