An ex-worker from Chick-fil-A has brought a federal sexual harassment claim against the company. The worker alleges that he was the victim of retaliation after he lodged a complaint with his employer about sexual harassment. The 19-year-old man claimed that a fellow co-worker was touching him inappropriately and making sexual and inappropriate comments to him on the job. Chic-fil-A is a popular fast-food chain located in Florida and throughout other parts of the nation.
At this time, Chic-fil-A has declined to comment about the lawsuit and referred an inquiry for comment to its public relations department. The official statement issued by the fast-food chain was that Chick-fil-A does not tolerate or condone sexual harassment in any form. The chain further stated that because the matter is currently pending in litigation with regard to an independent franchise owner-operator, it could not issue a statement concerning the specific details of the case.
The man who filed the lawsuit gained employment at Chic-fil-A in early 2012. He quit the job approximately seven months after his start date. Allegedly, the sexual touching and comments began during the month of April and continued to occur through September. The lawsuit further alleges the plaintiff complained to supervisors — who had also witnessed the behavior — that he wanted the sexual harassment to stop. However, in retaliation, his supervisors assigned him to work with the man who was harassing him and even gave him more work.
Sexual harassment is not only a violation of Florida state law, it is also a violation of federal law. When anyone is victimized by sexual harassment violations, the law is on his or her side to seek justice and financial compensation relating to the damages caused by that harassment. There are many powerful laws and legal strategies that may be employed to preserve the rights of Florida employees to work in an environment that is free of this kind of unacceptable behavior.
Source: macon.com, Former Chick-fil-A worker files federal sexual harassment lawsuit, Amy Leigh Womack, Sept. 22, 2013