Managers Prohibited from Sexually Harassing Employees

The EEOC recently sued a Sonic restaurant franchise for sexual harassment, alleging that one of the franchise’s co-managers made inappropriate sexual comments to at least three separate teenage female “carhops.”  The manager also allegedly propositioned these women and subjected them to inappropriate and unwanted physical touching.  Despite reports of this sexual harassment, Sonic took no action to prevent or mitigate the harassment.  Instead, the manager was given a promotion.  This alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment.  See EEOC v. SDI of Mineola, L.L.C., No. 6:21-CV-00226 (E.D. Tex.).