Fla. Applebee’s Settles Race, Sexual Orientation Discrimination Suit
In a settlement with the U.S. Government, Applebee’s franchise owners in Florida have agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve a case involving sexual orientation discrimination.
A cook at the restaurant in Plant City, Fla., was forced to quit because of complaining about racism and homophobia at the restaurant, according to a news release issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.The commission said Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida LLC in Tampa failed to take action after two co-workers hurled racial and homophobic slurs at Jebriel Teague.Teague, who is Black and gay, was verbally harassed by two restaurant employees who continuously used racial and homophobic epithets, the EEOC lawsuit claimed.
Teague reported the harassment to the restaurant’s various levels of management, but the employer did not take any action to stop it.
The harasser also regularly wore Confederate flag paraphernalia while working at the restaurant and made derogatory remarks.
