09/07/2011 // San Francisco, California, USA // Keller Grover LLP // Bay Area Employment Attorney Jeffrey Keller
San Jose, CA (Bay Area Employment Lawyer News) — Latino Panda Express workers were ordered to clean bathrooms, tables and counters while Asian American employees watched, alleged an employment discrimination lawsuit filed against the fast food chain in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, reports the Bay area employment attorneys at Keller Grover LLP.
According to information provided by the San Francisco Chronicle, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the employment discrimination lawsuit on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, which accused the fast food restaurant of mistreating its Latino workers based on their national origin. The discriminatory practices at Panda Express allegedly occurred from 2008 to 2009.
Court documents revealed that the Panda Express on El Paseo de Saratoga assigned the Latino workers less-desirable assignments and shorter hours, all while holding them to a higher standard than their Asian employees. In addition, the Latino workers claim they were disciplined more severely than the Asian employees, stated the San Francisco employment attorney, Jeffrey Keller.
“I felt so ashamed when the Asian workers watched me obediently run from the bathrooms to the tables to the counters, cleaning when they did not have to,” Aremy Lomely said to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The suit alleges that Panda Express violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination based on ethnicity, explains the California employment lawyer.
“Under California employment laws and regulations it is illegal to mistreat employees because of their national origin, race or religion. This is exactly what the San Jose Panda Express is being accused of. It not only has humiliated the Latino employees, it created a hostile work environment, which no one should have to endure,” states Keller, a Bay area employment lawyer.
This isn’t the first employment issue this San Jose Panda Express franchise has encountered. The same fast food location was sued in September for firing an employee for making a complaint about another employee’s “inappropriate sexual behavior.” Panda Express settled in April, awarding the employee $25,000 and offered her employment at the restaurant.
The experienced San Francisco employment attorneys at Keller Grover LLP are skilled in handling all aspects of employment law cases. If you or someone you know has been a victim of workplace discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, age, or disability, or you had your wage and hour rights violated, contacting a reputable Bay area employment lawyer can help get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Media Information:
Address: 16133 Ventura Blvd., Suite 645, Encino, CA 91436
Phone: 213-493-6345
Url: San Francisco employment lawyer | Los Angeles employment attorney