In the first half of August 2018 alone, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed 16 lawsuits against employers—and hospitality employers should be especially wary about this surge of litigation, as several claims took direct aim at businesses in the industry.
Harassment Claims Continue To Capture Spotlight
In light of the sexual abuse allegations against high profile individuals and the subsequent #MeToo Movement, EEOC Acting Chair Victoria Lipnic has announced workplace harassment issues are a priority for the agency. She pointed out that harassment "causes serious harm to women and men in all kinds of jobs across the country," and commended not only the EEOC legal teams for their work but also the individuals who came forward with complaints, many of whom alleged they suffered retaliation as a result.
One case against a country club in California involves claims of sexual conduct by a manager directed at female employees, including soliciting naked pictures, grabbing their buttocks, attempting to kiss them, and requiring sexual favors for job benefits. The EEOC lawsuit alleges that when women refused, the manager threatened termination and reduced their working hours in retaliation.
A sports bar in New Mexico also faces an EEOC lawsuit for sexual harassment of female employees by managers and coworkers. Reported behavior included requests to "show more cleavage" in their uniforms, crude comments about their breasts and buttocks, comments by male employees about their penises, text requests for sex, and unwelcome touching. This case also alleges retaliatory actions against the women for complaining.
EEOC's Push Includes Other Claims As Well
But sexual harassment is by no means the only kind of claim being faced by hospitality employers. The recent wave of EEOC litigation also includes claims of age discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and failure to accommodate employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), among others.
For example, a Georgia-based sports bar is facing an EEOC lawsuit alleging pregnancy discrimination. The lawsuit alleges that a pregnant bartender was demoted to a lower-paying server position because of her pregnancy. EEOC officials brought the lawsuit stating that "physical appearance alone is never a sufficient reason for taking adverse action against a pregnant employee" and depriving her of income.
The most recent lawsuit was filed against the Grand Hyatt in New York City on August 15, alleging failure to accommodate a front desk employee with a disability. The EEOC alleges that the hotel violated the ADA by forcing the employee to stand while performing his duties despite his request for a sitting accommodation due to a spine condition. The lawsuit alleges that the hotel initially accommodated the employee by allowing him to sit, then required him to resume standing, causing him significant pain and forcing him to take an unpaid leave.
Conclusion
The wave of lawsuits by the EEOC shows that the agency is beefing up its enforcement efforts in priority areas. The EEOC's most recent Strategic Enforcement Plan outlines the agency's priorities and includes ensuring that employers comply with obligations to accommodate disabled employees, protecting pregnancy employees' rights, and stamping out harassment and retaliation in the workplace.
Now is the time to review your EEO, harassment, reasonable accommodation, and anti-retaliation policies to ensure that they meet modern standards. You should also train your managers and supervisors to ensure they are enforcing those policies, and confirm that employees are aware of your company's commitment to a discrimination-free and harassment-free workplace.
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