Franchisee Settles Harassment Suit

The Arizona Republic:

A Flagstaff company that runs McDonald’s restaurants in Arizona and California will pay $550,000 to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit after federal investigators found a middle-age male manager had groped young female workers.

GLC Restaurants, Inc. will pay the money to 8 young women, one as young as 14, who were sexually harassed at a Cordes Junction McDonald’s.

The manager grabbed them around the waist, touched their breasts, put his hands into their pockets and rubbed up against them, according to the lawsuit filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

He had worked at a McDonald’s in Camp Verde, where similar incidents took place, the EEOC said. GLC knew of this and didn’t take preventive steps, the agency said

It’s not typical for young workers to stand up for their rights, said Sally Shanley, an EEOC attorney.