Dive Brief:
- Chuck E. Cheese is facing four lawsuits over alleged sexual harassment and retaliation in West Virginia, according to a press release from Bailess Law Firm, which represents the plaintiffs.
- Three former workers are suing the chain, alleging a manager sexually harassed them while two of the workers were minors. A former assistant manager alleges the brand retaliated against him for bringing workers’ concerns to upper management, according to complaints filed in West Virginia courts.
- At least one of the suits, all of which pertain to conduct by a general manager, has been in litigation since last year. At that time, a worker sued the chain over alleged harassment by the general manager after the worker reported sexual harassment by another worker. The other suits were filed in February and March.
Dive Insight:
Workplace sexual harassment can be a major issue in the restaurant industry. In this latest case at Chuck E. Cheese, two of the four plaintiffs were younger than 18 when employed by the chain. Both allege that the general manager engaged in grooming, touched them without their consent and made inappropriate sexual comments.
Another worker, who was not a minor when employed by Chuck E. Cheese, alleged that she likewise experienced sexual harassment from the general manager.
An assistant manager at the location in question alleged in his lawsuit that the general manager inappropriately touched women who worked at the location. The assistant manager reported this to a district manager, who, according to the complaint, said she would discuss it with the general manager.
Shortly thereafter, the general manager “began targeting and treating Plaintiff differently,” the lawsuit alleges. That treatment, including disciplinary warnings, resulted in the assistant manager’s termination.
Todd Bailess, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in the press release, “Chuck E. Cheese knew about serious safety issues impacting its employees, customers, and the children who visited this restaurant for more than three years, but corporate management failed to act.”
CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese, declined to comment.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued a Taco Bell operator for allegedly allowing a manager to sexually harass workers. Subway is facing a $50 million lawsuit over alleged sexual abuse at a franchised restaurant, and last year a McDonald’s franchisee settled a similar sexual abuse case for $4.35 million.
