A Sonic Drive-In in Grapevine, Texas, has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), for $31,000, the agency has announced. The EEOC's suit charged that SDI of Grapevine, A Texas Partnership, subjected a 17-year-old carhop to a sexually hostile work environment created by the general manager of the restaurant.
According to the EEOC, Sonic general manager Shawn Sadler subjected the female employee to repeated sexual harassment, including offering to go over her receipts in exchange for oral sex.
The EEOC claims that SDI of Grapevine failed to conduct a proper investigation and did not appropriately discipline the manager, even though the company found that he had engaged in "harassing behavior."
Under the settlement, besides the monetary award, SDI of Grapevine is enjoined from further discrimination on the basis of gender, including sexual harassment, and from retaliating in any way against a person for reporting or complaining about discriminatory practices. Further, the company will take corrective measures for the next five years, including anti-harassment training and notice posting.
The company also will place in the manager's personnel file a written notice stating that a young worker has alleged sexual harassment, including forced physical touching, and that any further complaints will be fully investigated according to defendant's procedures and, should there be evidence to support such claims, he shall be subject to immediate termination.
"Young workers are often vulnerable in part because of they are taught or accustomed to respect and obey persons in position of authority," said Robert A. Canino, regional attorney of the EEOC's Dallas District Office. "The other part of the equation is that high-school-aged workers are typically unfamiliar with the laws that protect them. In this case, the young lady did the right thing by discussing her concerns and discomfort with her mother."
