today:
49
yesterday:
191
Total:
998,396

Articles about Careers

Panda Express Agrees to Early Settlement with EEOC to Resolve Sexual Harassment Suit

Teens at Quick Service Restaurant Chain in Hawaii Were Physically Groped and Demeaned by Supervisor, Federal Agency Says

HONOLULU - Chinese quick service restaurant giant Panda Express will pay $150,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit on behalf of at least three female teenagers who were allegedly sexually harassed between 2007 and 2009 while working in a restaurant in Kauai, Hawaii, the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC, one male kitchen supervisor at the Panda Express in Kapaa, Kauai, sexually harassed some females on staff over four years ago.  The supervisor subjected the workers, some of whom were between the ages of 17 and 19, to sexual comments, language and advances, the EEOC said.  Upon reporting the harassment to the general manager, the EEOC said, Panda Express management failed to take enough action to stop or correct the situation.

Sexual harassment violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The EEOC filed its lawsuit in September 2012 in U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii (EEOC v. Panda Express, Inc. and Panda Restaurant Groups, Inc., Case No. 1:12-cv-00530-SOM-RLP) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.  As part of the settlement announced today, the parties entered into a two-year consent decree requiring Panda Express to designate an in-house equal employment opportunity (EEO) coordinator; revise and distribute its anti-harassment policy and procedures; and provide annual sexual harassment training to all employees in Kapaa and to all general managers in the state of Hawaii.  EEOC will monitor compliance with the agreement, and Panda Express agreed to reinforce its protocols relating to complaints of sexual harassment in its Hawaii region.

"We commend Panda Express for working with the EEOC to correct serious lapses in dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace," said Anna Y. Park, regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles District Office, which includes Hawaii in its jurisdiction.  "We trust that Panda Express's company values are consistent with the goals of the EEOC's mission, and we commend them for agreeing to broader injunctive remedies to ensure that the workers in Hawaii are protected." 

Timothy Riera, local director for the EEOC's Honolulu Local Office, added, "We encourage employers to conduct meaningful training of its employees on what the policies and procedures are with respect to sexual harassment.  Those who exercise their right to report sexual harassment and discrimination at work are also protected from illegal retaliation.  The EEOC is certainly here to help, especially when employers fail to meet their legal obligation to protect our youngest workers."

According to the company website, www.pandaexpress.com, Rosemead, Calif.-based Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. manages and owns over 1,600 restaurants in 42 states.

The EEOC recently updated its Youth@Work website (at http://www.eeoc.gov/youth/), which presents information for teens and other young workers about employment discrimination.  The website also contains curriculum guides for students and teachers and videos to help young workers learn about their rights and responsibilities in the work force.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. 

 

Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.

No. Subject Date Views
281 Employment Law Basics 2016.01.14 927
280 Unemployment Benefits After Moving Out of State 2015.04.29 1263
279 연령 차별' 해고 60대에 2600만달러 배상 2014.03.01 1323
278 FLSA Status - Exempt vs. Non-Exempt? -- 5) OUTSIDE SALES Exemption 충족요건 2014.01.02 1169
277 FLSA Status - Exempt vs. Non-Exempt? -- 4) COMPUTER Exemption 충족요건 2014.01.02 1172
276 FLSA Status - Exempt vs. Non-Exempt? -- 3) PROFESSIONAL Exemption 충족요건 2014.01.02 3690
275 FLSA Status - Exempt vs. Non-Exempt? -- 2) ADMINISTRATIVE Exemption 충족요건 2014.01.02 2318
274 FLSA Status - Exempt vs. Non-Exempt? -- 1) EXECUTIVE Exemption 충족요건 2014.01.02 1144
273 Questions and Answers for Small Employers on Employer Liability for Harassment by Supervisors 2013.12.27 1088
272 McDonald's Restaurants of California, Inc. Settles EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit 2013.12.27 1455
271 FLSA Status - 어떻게 Exempt인지 Non Exempt인지 구분하나요? 단계별 test를 해보세요. 2013.11.25 1078
270 Newly Hired or Promoted Managers - sexual harassment 주시고 계신가요? 2013.11.25 912
269 EEOC And Cooper University Health Care Reach Accord on Reasonable Accommodation Issues 2013.09.04 1792
268 EEOC란 무엇을 하는 곳인가? 2013.09.02 2174
267 Mississippi Holiday Inn Franchisee Sued by EEOC for Pregnancy Discrimination 2013.09.02 1492
266 AT&T to Pay Quarter Million Dollars to Settle EEOC Agen Disrimination Suit 2013.09.02 1646
265 BASF Corp. to Pay $500,000 to settle EEOC Retaliation Lawsuit Against Cognis 2013.06.08 1828
264 Stone Pony Pizza Sued for Race Discrimination 2013.06.08 1897
» Panda Express Agrees to Early Settlement with EEOC to Resolve Sexual Harassment Suit 2013.06.08 1699
262 Joe-Ryan Enterprises to Pay $15K to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit 2013.06.08 1711
261 주정부에 내는 세금과 주정부 혜택은 어떤 관련이 있을까? 2013.06.08 1271
260 The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 2013.06.05 2856
259 Age Discrimination - 몇살부터 차별을 하는것을 의미할까요? 2013.06.05 2374
258 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Rights & Responsibilities - Employee 2013.05.31 1783
257 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Rights & Responsibilities - Employer 2013.05.31 1956
256 $22.5 Million Verdict Reversed Where Employer Admitted Its Vicarious Liability For Employee’s Negligence 2013.05.28 1599
255 EPLI-Employers face a growing multitude of serious employment practices liability (EPL) exposures 2013.05.28 1100
254 Egg Giant National Food to Pay $650,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit 2013.05.26 1714
253 $192,500-EEOC settles Sex harassment and Retaliation Suit Against Grace Episcopal Church 2013.05.26 1558
252 Race/Color Discrimination 2013.05.26 1729
251 Paystub에 Social Security Number를 Full로 사용하는것이 법에 저촉이 될까? 2013.03.03 1210
250 No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: ConocoPhillips to pay $15.5 Million to Settle Meal Break Lawsuit 2013.03.03 1502
249 AT&T Workers Claim Lunch Break Violations 2013.03.03 1461
248 How to file a claim with the Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) 2013.02.10 2196
247 10 ways to limit holiday party liquor liability 2012.12.04 1368
246 FSA - Allowable Medical Expenses - 어떤 비용들이 해당이 될까요? 2012.11.30 1380
245 IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO 2012 FSA PARTICIPANTS - FSA를 가입하셨나요? 어떻게 2012를 마무리해야 할까요? 2012.11.30 1199
244 How to Calculate Employee Turnover? 2012.11.30 1164
243 Reduced Wages - 몸이 아파서 제대로 일을 하지 못하였습니까? 2012.11.22 2221
242 OT에 관하여 2012.11.19 1187
241 FICA's Bite: Wages Subject to Social Security Tax to Increase in 2013: Taxable maximum earnings will rise to $113,700 from $110,100 2012.10.26 1140
240 Article : Love Contract 2012.10.22 1281
239 Hire할 때, Terminate 시킬 때, LOA 때 반드시 갖추어야 할 HR 서류 List (CA) 2012.08.22 1387
238 Fremont Toyota Pays $400,000 to Settle EEOC's Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit - Allegation 2012.08.19 1459
237 FMLA 관련 중요한 날짜 계산 방식 2012.08.18 2332
236 WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FMLA/CFRA LEAVE 2012.08.18 2103
235 Benefit to employee 2012.08.18 1938
234 Definition of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Right Act (CFRA) 2012.08.18 1583
233 Age Discrimination 2012.08.18 1739
232 Fremont Toyota Pays $400,000 to Settle EEOC's Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit -Press Release-08-07-12 2012.08.18 1448