Laughlin River Lodge to Pay $1.2M for ‘Extreme and Pervasive’ Sexual Harassment

• EEOC sued Nevada Restaurant Companies over extreme harassment at Laughlin River Lodge
• Employees confronted assault, threats, retaliation, and ignored complaints
• Settlement contains $1.2M payout and main office reforms

Nevada Restaurant Companies (NRS), operator of Laughlin River Lodge Resort & On line casino in Laughlin, Nev., has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit introduced by the federal US Equal Employment Alternative Fee (EEOC).

The Laughlin River Lodge in Laughlin, Nev. The EEOC argued that the corporate knew concerning the extreme harassment of workers by coworkers, however did nothing to forestall it. (Picture: Shutterstock)

The EEOC sued NRS in August 2023 on behalf of a category of ladies and men who, from 2018 onward, had skilled “ongoing, unwelcome, extreme, and pervasive sexual harassment” by coworkers.

The lawsuit accused the defendant of “creating and sustaining an offensive, abusive, intimidating, and hostile work surroundings due to intercourse.”

Disturbing Conduct

“Male workers subjected feminine workers to undesirable bodily sexual advances together with, however not restricted to, tried rape of a 19-year-old feminine worker, groping feminine workers’ breasts, buttocks and vaginas, masturbating in entrance of feminine workers, stalking feminine workers exterior the office, or trapping them in tight areas comparable to walk-in fridges or locked lodge rooms to make undesirable sexual advances,” the grievance alleged.

The harassment was described as “ubiquitous, open, frequent, and constant” – typically happening in full view of supervisors. Administration noticed or heard the conduct often and nonetheless took no motion, the EEOC claimed.

In a single occasion, a 19-year-old feminine housekeeper complained to Human Sources a couple of male employee who repeatedly blocked her into lodge rooms she was cleansing. He would grope her breasts, rub himself in opposition to her, and threaten to rape her.

The day after making the grievance, she was instructed she was not cleansing totally sufficient, and if it occurred once more, she can be fired, in response to the lawsuit.

When one other feminine housekeeper complained about being sexually harassed by the identical worker, together with being touched on the vagina and breasts, she was instructed ‘he means no hurt,’” per the grievance.

Workers believed they’d no alternative however to resign as a result of they feared for his or her bodily security and will now not endure the office.

‘Pet My Kitty’

The harassers weren’t at all times males. One feminine worker often requested male workers to the touch her vagina by lifting her apron and asking them to “pet her kitty.” She would additionally often grope male workers’ genitalia, in response to the grievance.

The EEOC argued the misconduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits a hostile office surroundings primarily based on intercourse, together with sexual harassment.

In addition to agreeing to the $1.2 million fee, NRS will implement extra measures to discourage and reply to incidents of sexual harassment.