Simply Slims, L.L.C., operating as Slim Chickens, has agreed to pay $300,000 and implement additional measures to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The settlement was announced by the EEOC on Thursday.
Slim Chickens is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and operates over 200 restaurants nationwide. Simply Slims owns 13 of these locations in Central Arkansas, including one in Hot Springs.
The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged that the company received two complaints about sexual harassment by a shift manager at its Hot Springs location before April 2022 but did not take action. The situation continued until July 2022 when four more young female employees reported similar allegations against the same manager.
“As young people step into today’s work environment, many continue to experience harassment,” said Faye Williams, regional attorney for EEOC’s Memphis District Office. “This case sends a clear message to employers: the EEOC is steadfast in its commitment to eliminating discrimination and ensuring that all workers are protected from harassment in the workplace.”
The alleged actions were found to violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Simply Slims, L.L.C., Case No. 6:23-cv-06090) in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas after unsuccessful attempts at pre-litigation settlement through administrative conciliation.
A two-year consent decree approved by Chief U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey requires Slim Chickens to update and distribute its sexual harassment policy and provide training on this issue for all employees during that period.
“With more American teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 entering the workforce each year, it’s critical that employers recognize the EEOC stands firm in its commitment to eradicating sexual harassment in the workplace and to equipping this nation’s young people with the resources they need to be successful in the workforce,” said Delner Franklin-Thomas, district director of the Memphis District Office.
Information about workplace sexual harassment can be found on the EEOC website at https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment. The agency also provides resources for teens and young workers regarding employment discrimination through its Youth@Work program at https://www.eeoc.gov/youth.
The EEOC is responsible for investigating and litigating cases involving private sector employers accused of violating federal employment discrimination laws; it shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice for public sector cases.
More details about the agency’s role can be found at www.eeoc.gov.
