Let's Not Do Outback Tonight

Of course it was not front page news or a key story on any nightly news story but OSI Restaurant Partners, who operate Outback Steakhouse restaurants in the US, agreed to pay a  settlement of $19 million out-of-court to settle a class-action lawsuit for sex discrimination against thousands of female employees.  The primary discriminatory practice was denying female employees equal opportunities for advancement to jobs that provided higher-level profit-sharing plans and favorable job assignments.  Industry of Choice indeed!

Of course, OSI said in a statement that the settlement did not include any finding of fault by Outback.  Really?!  What weasels.  Would you pay $19 million if you were squeaky clean on such a matter?!  And then again, remind me again how hard pressed foodservice chains are to afford hourly employees a $.25 per hour raise while at the same time able to pay a $19 million settlement?

The point of this post is that we have to instill in our male students that sexual discrimination -- and harassment -- is absolutely unacceptable and illegal in this country.  We must also instill in our female students that they not subject themselves to such treatment like those working at Outback.  This was evident in my HR class last semester when we were covering sexual harassment.  I asked the female students what they will do when they are sexually harassed as there is no if about it.   The majority of them said they would do nothing or "act as if it did not bother them!"  I was floored and gave them instructions on how to professionally handle this situation so it would stop because it is unacceptable and unlawful, especially since I witnessed this first hand when working in restaurants and a union representative at Xerox corporation in my 20's.  I hope you will join me and do the same because it is time to stop the sexual harassment that takes place in restaurants from coast-to-coast on a daily basis.

Oh, and OSI also owns Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.  I wonder how women are treated at those two chains that are also now on my list of chains not to be supported by me with my dining dollars. 

Now that I am the wiser it appears that the graphic advert attached to this blog apparently offered a behind the scenes look into the shody management practices of those who manage the chain.  How sad indeed.