The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sued Chipotle Mexican Grill accusing them of sexually harassing one of their employees and then retaliating against them. This is not the first time Chipotle has been sued for sexual harassment. Last year, a former teen employee of Chipotle in Texas was awarded $7.6 million. In this instance, a 22-year old male shift manager had to endure verbal and physical sexual harassment by his female general manager.
In his EEOC complaint, the former worker claims that his general manager frequently discussed her own sex life and inquired about other workers sex lives by keeping track on a scoreboard in the location’s main office. His supervisor would additionally harass the young shift manager by telling him she wanted to engage in sexual acts with him and his girlfriend. She allegedly even went as far as to physically grope his privates. When the former employee complained about her behavior to upper management, she actively retaliated against him. The victim was locked in a company walk-in freezer and his motorcycle was moved without his knowledge. His abuser also instructed the rest of the employees to shun him and avoid speaking to him. After enduring the harassment on a daily basis, the 22-year old felt his only option was to quit.
Even though a Chipotle spokesperson noted that they do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment, it does not necessarily mean the proper actions were taken in this situation to protect the rights of its employees. If you, or anyone you know, feels that they may have been discriminated against in their place of employment, having a consultation with an employment lawyer is recommended. At Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP, a free consultation is provided over the phone with one of our available attorneys. Call us at (212) 300-0375 and speak to someone now in regards to your specific situation. You can also obtain additional information by visiting our website here.