STRATEGIC PARTNERS
August 18, 2011
The U.S. Equal Employment Commission has brought a lawsuit against a Panda Express in San Jose, Calif., on behalf of a handful of Latino employees who claimed they were treated unfairly. Namely, the workers allege they were given less desirable assignments, shorter hours and more discipline than their Asian American coworkers.
According to the San Francisco Gate, the incidents happened between 2008 and 2009.
The EEOC, claiming a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, is seeking monetary damages on behalf of the Latino employees, as well as strict anti-discrimination training.
In a statement released by the EEOC, employee Aremy Lomely said the restaurant's former general manager divided Latino workers from Asian Americans.
"I felt so ashamed when the Asian workers watched me obediently run from the bathrooms to the tables to the counters, cleaning when they did not have to," Lomely said.
The restaurant is now under new management and claims its practices have improved.
The company, based in Los Angeles County, Calif., operates 1,370 Asian restaurants including Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San.
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