WASHINGTON — The largest franchisee of Burger King restaurants will pay $2.5 million to settle federal sexual harassment claims.
The Associated Press reports the agreement between Carrols Corp. and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions covers 89 female employees around the country.
It brings a 14-year lawsuit to an end that was one of the most extensive in the commission’s history.
The EEOC alleged that Carrols employees subjected women in dozens of restaurants to harassment including obscene comments, unwanted touching, genitalia exposure, strip searches and rape.
The AP reports Carrols did not admit any wrongdoing and the company released a statement that it settled the case to avoid litigation costs.
Carrols is based in Syracuse, NY. The company owns 570 Burger King restaurants in 13 states in the eastern U.S. and it employs more than 17,000 people.
