Honolulu restaurant settles EEOC lawsuit

Mexico Restaurant in Honolulu will pay $227,500 to settle a sexual and racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency said Monday.

The EEOC said female servers were subjected to repeated sexual touching and comments by a co-worker, and that at least one female server experienced retaliatory harassment and was discharged after she complained to management.

Despite complaints of sexual and racial harassment, the employer did not take corrective and preventive action, allowing the harassment to continue unabated, the agency said.

The company was charged with violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The agency said that in addition to providing monetary relief, the restaurant agreed to put in place effective measures to address and prevent discrimination, including designating an external equal opportunity monitor to ensure compliance with Title VII.

The restaurant said in a statement that it is “committed to ensuring the workplace is free from discrimination, retaliation and harassment.”