For whatever reason, many people probably imagine that sexual harassment in the workplace is more likely to occur in an office environment than in other contexts. But, according to a recent report, sexual harassment may be quite a problem in places where many of us interact with others on a weekly basis: fast food restaurants.
How common is sexual harassment in the fast food industry? Well, the recent report provided details of the recent worker strike that took place in McDonald’s restaurants across the country, the intent of which was to draw attention to this important issue. Such a coordinated effort by so many workers in various states shows that sexual harassment in this particular industry may be more common than any of us may have previously suspected.
For example, the recent report noted a lawsuit that was filed in California recently, naming Del Taco, a restaurant chain in the state, as a defendant in a sexual harassment and retaliation case. The allegations were pursued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. According to the report, the alleged victims in this case assert that management-level employees subjected female employees, who are primarily teenagers, to sexual harassment.
This just goes to show that sexual harassment can happen in almost any employment environment, and spans many age ranges. From office workers, entertainers and fast food employees, California is seeing quite a few sexual harassment claims in recent months. The victims in these cases deserve to be heard and they should work to make sure that their legal rights are protected.