“BARK IF YOU’RE DIRTY” ENABLED ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT
In late September, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged in a civil lawsuit that “Bark If You’re Dirty,” an Arizona pet store, violated federal laws when it engaged in sex discrimination and failed to correctly remedy sexual harassment at one of its establishments.
Apparently, a male manager reportedly subjected women to “inappropriate sexual comments about female customers and employees, physically touching female employees without their consent, showing female employees naked photos, and sexually propositioning female employees.” When the victims complained about the misconduct, the company not only failed to take appropriate action, it retaliated by terminating those who objected to the mistreatment.
Believing that such conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC filed suit against Teetszinty, Teetszinty 2 and Teetszinty Holding, three limited liability companies formerly operating as Wag N’ Wash and doing business as Bark If You’re Dirty, (EEOC v. Teetszinty LLC, et. al. Case No. 2:23-cv-02051-DLR), in the U.S. District Court of Arizona, seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.
In a written statement, EEOC Phoenix District Office Regional Attorney, Mary Jo O’Neill, observed, “Sexual harassment is unacceptable and unfortunately continues to be prevalent in the workplace …. When employees complain to their employer about sexual harassment, employers have an obligation to take immediate action to eliminate the misconduct from the workplace.”
Sounds like things are going to get real ruff.
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