A planned Swami’s Café before its opening in North County. (File photo)

A San Diego County restaurant chain, it was announced Tuesday, has agreed to pay a six-figure settlement to end a harassment and retaliation lawsuit on behalf of several female employees.

The allegations against Swami’s Cafe in the suit, some dating back to 2019, include sexual harassment by male supervisors and co-workers.

The lawsuit, brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleged that female Swami’s employees, including teenagers, were subjected to “repeated, frequent and offensive sex-based remarks and advances, as well as unwelcome touching.”

The EEOC said employees who complained were retaliated against and even forced to quit their jobs.

“We continue to see young women experience sexual harassment in the restaurant industry, often during their first job experience,” said Anna Park, an EEOC regional attorney. “Employers have a duty to protect young workers by putting in place strong policies and procedures that ensure managers and supervisors are held accountable for maintaining a safe and respectful workplace.”

Swami’s, which operates nine restaurants in the region, did not admit wrongdoing while settling the case, but agreed to a payment of $650,000 and a two-year consent decree, which U.S. District Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks approved on Monday.

The decree holds that Swami’s will retain an equal employment opportunity monitor, establish complaint procedures and a toll-free hotline, and put policies in place for reporting discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Mandatory training will be implemented and notice of the settlement will be posted at all Swami’s locations, as well as the Honey Bistro in Encinitas.

Those who were fired or quit will be given the opportunity to return and “the company shall also remove any negative references to the harassment, discrimination and retaliation from the employees’ personnel files,” the EEOC said.

“We commend these young women for their bravery in coming forward, asserting their rights, and giving a voice to others,” said Jacquelyn Famber, director of the EEOC’s San Diego office. “The injunctive relief in this decree is an excellent step forward for Swami’s Cafe and Honey Bistro, and it would behoove other employers to take note of the relief furnished in this case and implement similar changes as necessary.”

City News Service contributed to this report.

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