ALBUQUERQUE — The federal government has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a New Mexico sports cantina, alleging sexual harassment, including one claim that a manager texted a photo of one of his body parts to a female employee.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing the owners of Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, alleging a group of female employees were subjected to sexual harassment by managers and co-workers in violation of federal law.
According to the EEOC lawsuit, the group of female employees endured requests to "show more cleavage" in their uniforms, comments about their breasts and buttocks, unwelcome touching and text requested sex and showing photos of a male body part. After complaining about the harassment, one female employee received fewer hours, unfavorable shifts and changes to work assignments and eventually was fired. The other female employees resigned due to the hostile work environment, the EEOC said.
"Employers have a legal obligation to prevent and stop sexually harassing behavior immediately," EEOC Phoenix District Office regional attorney Mary Jo O'Neill said in a statement."When they fail to do so, the EEOC has and will prosecute such cases vigorously. We remain particularly concerned about sexual harassment in workplaces where employees are often young, single mothers, or other vulnerable workers."
Among the EEOC's requests is back wages, compensatory and punitive damages for the affected women.