PHOENIX The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of a group of male employees at a Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Chandler, Ariz.
The suit, filed in district court here, accuses the casual-dining chain of creating a hostile work environment by permitting one group of male employees to harass another group of male workers. The suit alleges the men would grab another man and take turns simulating sex with the victim. The suit also claims that the men would bump into victims in a sexual manner and grab their genitals on multiple occasions. According to the complaint, Cheesecake Factory managers failed to address the situation.
Officials from the Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based chain declined to comment on the lawsuit. However, the company said in a statement that it takes all employee harassment claims seriously and has worked “in good faith” with the EEOC to resolve the allegations.
The Cheesecake Factory operates 141 namesake restaurants, as well as 13 Grand Lux Cafes and the newly opened RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen concept.