MIAMI — An Orlando restaurant has reached a settlement with the federal government to resolve allegations of subjecting a bartender to sexual harassment and then firing her due to her complaints about the harassment.
The settlement resolves the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) lawsuit filed against Christini's Ristorante Italiano restaurant, which allegedly subjected a female bartender to sexual harassment that included being described to restaurant customers as "single and available to date them," sexual innuendos and being told to dress "sexy."
"Consistent with the commission's longtime commitment to eradicating sexual discrimination in the workplace, the EEOC will continue to file lawsuits to remedy sexual harassment and to ensure that employees are not retaliated against for complaining about it," EEOC Miami District regional attorney Robert Weisberg said in a statement.
"Federal law is abundantly clear that sexual harassment will not be tolerated," added EEOC Miami District director Michael Farrell. "Employers who ignore anti-discrimination laws should be on notice that they do so at their own peril."
The settlement includes Christini's paying an $80,000 monetary reward, establishing harassment training for its employees and hiring an "independent third party to set up a "telephone hotline" for employees to report harassment and discrimination, the EEOC said.