Applebee’s Franchisee Settles Sex Harassment Suit With EEOC

An Alabama-based franchisee of Applebee’s Services Inc. will pay $270,000 to resolve a lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of female employees who alleged sex harassment and a hostile work environment.

The EEOC alleged in a September 2024 lawsuit that a manager at Quality Restaurant Concepts LLC’s Chelsea, Ala., restaurant, along with several other male employees, made vulgar comments to and inappropriately touched female workers.

The franchisee knew of the misconduct, which included harassment of minors, and failed to take action, the complaint said. Ultimately, two of the female workers were constructively discharged, and a third resigned ...