EEOC Sues Snappers Sports Bar and Grill  For Sexual Harassment

Owner Repeatedly Targeted and Sexually Harassed Multiple Female Employees, Forcing Them to Resign, Federal Agency Charges

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC, dba Snappers Sports Bar and Grill and Snap-ette Beach and Liquor Store, violated federal law when the company created an environment that supported and condoned sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, the company's owner, managers and patrons subjected female employees to repeated sexual harassment in the form of unwelcome sexual comments, un-wanted touching and leering at the female employees' body parts. Multiple employees complained about the harassment but the company failed to take corrective action. The EEOC contends that the employees were forced to resign to avoid further harassment.

Such alleged conduct violates the provisions against sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed its suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii (EEOC v. Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC et al, Case No: 1:17-cv-00482) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The EEOC's suit seeks back pay, benefits, and compensatory and punitive damages for a class of aggrieved female employees, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent any future discrimination in the workplace.

"We continue to see sexual harassment cases in our region and we urge employers to take proactive steps to prevent such misconduct before it begins," said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles District, which includes Hawaii in its jurisdiction.

Glory Gervacio Saure, director of EEOC's Honolulu Local Office, added, "We hope this sends a powerful message to all workers in the tourism industry that the EEOC will relentlessly enforce federal law against sex discrimination in the workplace."

Preventing harassment through systemic investigations and litigation is one of six national priorities identified by EEOC's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.