ORLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — Former servers at a restaurant in a southwest suburb of Chicago say they were sexually harassed in the workplace.
The former workers filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in February against Twin Peaks in Orland Park, the Chicago Tribune reported . The charges allege violations of Title VII in the Civil Rights Act, which protects against sex discrimination.
The charges allege servers were graded by their physical appearance and those with higher scores could work in the best sections of the restaurant. Workers said they were required to wear lingerie and bikinis on certain occasions, which led to some police citations for indecent exposure.
The allegations said workers were rarely given meal breaks and that their dressing room didn’t have a door.
The charges include a copy of a document with a description of the job, which employees are required to sign.
“The essence of the role is based on female sex appeal,” the document stated.
Two of the charges were filed on behalf of Sarah Blaylock, 28, and Daryll Rodriguez, 24, female bartenders who left the job last spring after more than a year.
“It was very degrading, and very sad,” Blaylock said. “And it took a lot out of each and every one of us.”
Kenneth Biggers, 31, was a former busboy who alleges he was harassed and discriminated against for being gay.
The allegations are “baseless,” said Joe Hummel, CEO of Twin Peaks.
“Twin Peaks does not tolerate any type of harassment or discrimination and has strict policies and training practices in place to make sure every guest and employee is treated equally and with great respect,” Hummel said.
Twin Peaks is a Dallas-based chain of sports bar-and-grills. It had more than 5,000 employees and 81 locations in the U.S. last year, the company said.
The commission declined to comment on the case.
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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
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