EEOC again threatens employers in its attempt to eradicate men from the workforce This time legal action against restaurant

PHOENIX (KOLD) - Casey Jones Grill, located on Thunderbird Road in West Phoenix, allegedly sexually harassed its female bartenders and servers with lewd comments and sex-based derogatory name calling, according to a news release.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit in federal court stating that the restaurant owner, Nick Karendreas, was the principal harasser of the female employees.

According to the EEOC's suit, the women were routinely called harassing and vulgar names, including "stupid bitch" and who were regularly subjected to unwelcome sexually-offensive remarks. The complaint further alleges that the female employees were subjected to sexist and demeaning treatment and that female employees were forced to resign because of the intolerable, hostile working conditions or they were terminated based on their gender.

The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement. The lawsuit seeks lost wages and compensatory and punitive damages for the harassment victims, as well as appropriate injunctive relief to prevent discriminatory practices in the future.

 

"Women have the right to work in an environment free from both sexual harassment and demeaning treatment because they are female. Employers who engage in such discriminatory treatment do so at their peril," said Mary Jo O'Neill, Regional Attorney for the EEOC's Phoenix District Office.

EEOC's Acting District Director Rayford O. Irvin, added, "Employers have a responsibility to maintain an environment free of sexual harassment and gender-based hostility. The EEOC will continue its strong commitment to ending sex discrimination and harassment."