Chili’s Franchise Faces EEOC Lawsuits Over Sexual Harassment of Teen Workers in Texas and Arkansas

Background

Two Chili’s Grill & Bar franchise locations—one in Benton, Arkansas, and the other in Prosper, Texas—are facing legal action after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed lawsuits alleging sexual harassment of teenage female employees. The cases highlight systemic failures in preventing workplace misconduct and protecting vulnerable teen workers.

Incident Details

In Benton, Arkansas, Brinker Arkansas, Inc., allegedly allowed a 33-year-old male cook to sexually harass a group of female teenage employees. The reported behavior included repeated physical assaults, ultimately leading one teen to resign.

In a separate incident at a Chili’s in Prosper, Texas, Brinker International Payroll Company, L.P., faced allegations involving a 36-year-old male employee who groped a female worker from behind and made repeated sexually explicit comments in English and Spanish. Other male kitchen and hourly staff reportedly joined in by making frequent inappropriate remarks toward teen workers.

In both cases, management failed to properly act on complaints. Despite the teens reporting the misconduct, one restaurant continued to schedule a victim with her alleged harasser, and neither location conducted an effective on-site investigation. Instead, both relied on off-site “Team Member Relations” staff who failed to respond adequately.

Legal Background

The alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace and protects employees from retaliation for reporting such behavior. The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Case No. 4:22-cv-00820-KGB) and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Case No. 3:22-cv-02017-E) after failed attempts at pre-litigation settlement through conciliation.

Settlement and Relief Sought

The EEOC is seeking:

• Monetary compensation for victims (including back pay, lost benefits, compensatory and punitive damages)
• Court-ordered injunctive relief to strengthen training, reporting, and investigations
• Policy revisions to ensure a safe and harassment-free work environment
• Mandatory anti-harassment training for management and staff

As of now, no final settlement has been reached. Litigation is ongoing.

Key Takeaways

1. Teens are highly vulnerable in first-time jobs—especially in fast-paced, informal work environments like restaurants.
2. Failure to investigate onsite creates risk—relying on remote HR procedures can fail to capture the urgency or scope of complaints.
3. Employers must act on reports immediately—continuing to schedule victims with their alleged harassers shows disregard for employee safety and increases liability.

Conclusion

These lawsuits reflect ongoing concerns about harassment in the food service industry, especially among teenage workers entering the workforce for the first time. The failure of two Chili’s franchisees to protect young employees and respond adequately to complaints underscores the need for better workplace monitoring and accountability.

Recommendation: Invest in Proven Sexual Harassment Training

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• Ensure employees understand their rights
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