EEOC alleges sexual harassment in suit vs. McD franchisee

Nation's Restaurant News, Oct 9, 2006

Denver -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued McDonald's franchisee Jobec Inc. of Durango, Colo., for the alleged sexual harassment of two teenage female employees by male managers and staffers.

In a statement released by Oak Brook, Ill.-based franchisor McDonald's Corp., Jobec owners John and Cecilia Bronson were quoted as saying that the well-being of their employees was "first and foremost a priority in our company," but specifics of the accusation were not mentioned.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court here, claims the employees, who were 17 and 18 at the time, were verbally and physically harassed for several months, beginning in December 2003. Male employees allegedly lifted the women's shirts, grabbed their breasts, spied on them when they changed into their uniforms, and offered them money, car keys and credit cards in exchange for sex.