Cheesecake Factory Agrees to Pay $345,000 Settlement over Harassment Case

Nov. 10, 2009

Calabasas - US restaurant chain Cheesecake Factory Inc. has agreed to pay $345,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by six employees who accused the company of allowing other workers to sexually harass them in its Arizona branch.

While the alleged sexual harassment happened between male workers, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which helped the complainants to file the lawsuit, said this kind of practice should not be condoned regardless if the victims are women or men.

In a lawsuit, EEOC has alleged that the company managers did not intervene even if they “already knew that a group of male kitchen workers have sexually assaulted and harassed the other six employees who are also male.”

Aside from paying workers with monetary damages, Cheesecake has also promised EEOC that it will provide managers and employees with trainings about sexual harassment policy. However, the company has denied the allegations of the plaintiffs.