MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has settled a lawsuit with a West Virgina restaurant accused of firing a female worker for resisting a supervisor's advances and subjecting other female employees to lewd sexual comments and grabbing.
According to the EEOC, Las Trancas of Martinsburg Inc., will pay $66,598 and provide other relief for employees who alleged sexual harassment.
The EEOC said Las Trancas subjected female employees to repeated sexual touching, grabbing and lewd sexual comments as well as threatening behaviors by male supervisors and coworkers. According to the EEOC, one of the female employees was fired after refusing a supervisor's advances.
"No worker should ever have to endure sexually degrading and humiliating work conditions in order to earn a living," EEOC Philadelphia District Office regional attorney Debra Lawrence said in a statement. "Employers should encourage victims of sexual harassment to come forward, not illegally punish their employees for reporting such abuse."
"This sort of abuse is far too common in the restaurant industry," EEOC Philadelphia District director Jamie Williamson added. "The EEOC is committed to protecting restaurant workers from sexual harassment and to vindicating their rights under federal law to resist such mistreatment and report it."