Chipotle Will Pay Millions to a Sexually Harassed Teen Employee
Following the decision of a jury in Houston, Chipotle will pay $7.65 million, plus another million in legal fees, to a 19-year-old former employee who was manipulated into having sex by two of her managers when she was 16.
The former employee's attorney presented evidence that the she was forced into having unprotected sex with her supervisor on more than 50 occasions over the course of four months in 2013. A second manager was an accessory who "helped make it happen," he told KPRC 2, describing Chipotle not as a restaurant, but "almost like a brothel that just served food."
"It was definitely hard," the former employee, who had worked at the Eldridge Parkway location in Houston, told KPRC 2. "I never expected it to be like that. I just went there to work and earn some money and I never expected that from managers to treat women like they're not supposed to be treated."
As a result of the abuse, she left her position at Chipotle. She now attends college in another state.
The abuser has reportedly fled to Mexico, where he is allegedly threatening and harassing the girl's family through social media.
Chipotle addressed the incident in a statement, explaining, "We care deeply about all of our employees, but even our rigorous policies specifically designed to protect our employees cannot prevent private relationships that happen away from the workplace during non-work hours, such as occurred in this case. We continue to offer our support for this former employee, and hope for her wellbeing."
Hannah Orenstein is a writer at Seventeen.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
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