Employers Have a Duty to Prevent Workplace Sexual Harassment

A recent EEOC lawsuit against Franchise Management, LLC, an operator of more than 20 Subway locations in Utah, highlights the serious legal consequences employers face when they fail to protect workers from sexual harassment, particularly young employees. According to the EEOC, a male district manager sexually harassed a teenage male employee over several months by making sexual comments, requesting explicit photos, and sending inappropriate images, culminating in forcible sexual abuse during a work shift. The case, brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, resulted in a $150,000 settlement and a three-year consent decree requiring policy revisions, mandatory sexual harassment training, an apology to the employee, and enhanced workplace safeguards. This case serves as a stark reminder that sexual harassment, including same-sex harassment, is unlawful, that employers are responsible for preventing and promptly addressing misconduct by supervisors, and that workers, regardless of age or gender, have the right to a safe and respectful workplace. ​(EEOC v. Franchise Management, LLC, Case No. 2:25-cv-000392)