Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Waffle House Lead to Federal Lawsuit

Marilyn Smith, a former grill operator at a Waffle House in South Carolina, has filed a federal lawsuit against the restaurant chain, alleging that her supervisor engaged in persistent sexual harassment, which the company failed to address adequately. Smith claims that her unit manager repeatedly groped her and ignored her requests for the behavior to stop, ultimately leading to her resignation after less than seven months of employment.

New York PostThe Independent

This lawsuit is not the first time Waffle House has faced allegations of sexual harassment. In 2009, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled a lawsuit against the chain after multiple servers reported similar harassment by a night shift cook at a Nashville location. The EEOC found that the company did not take appropriate action to resolve the complaints.

The Independent

Smith was hired on July 10, 2024, and claims that her supervisor began groping her shortly thereafter, with the harassment escalating over time. Despite her repeated complaints to her district manager, Smith alleges that no action was taken to stop the harassment. The lawsuit states that after a final incident on January 22, 2025, where her supervisor groped her again, Smith was disciplined instead of her harasser, leading her to resign under what is termed a "constructive discharge."

New York Post

Matthew King, Smith's attorney, emphasized that her case reflects a broader issue of workplace harassment and the tendency of management to protect the company rather than employees. Waffle House has not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of the latest reports.

The Independent

Critics of Waffle House's handling of the situation argue that the company's culture may contribute to a hostile work environment for female employees. Smith's experience is seen as indicative of systemic issues within the organization regarding the treatment of harassment complaints.

The Independent

Smith is seeking various forms of compensation, including back pay, front pay, and damages for emotional distress. The case is expected to proceed through the federal court system, where it will likely draw attention to workplace harassment issues within the food service industry.

The Independent

• “Ms. Smith's case, unfortunately, is indicative of the type of harassment and conduct imposed on females in the workplace,” — Matthew King, Attorney

The Independent

• “It is also indicative of the protect-the-company mindset of managers and human resources employees that many hourly workers are not aware of.” — Matthew King, Attorney

The Independent

• “constructively discharged, due to her constant sexual harassment at work,” — Federal lawsuit filing

New York Post

This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns regarding workplace harassment and the responsibilities of employers to protect their employees from such behavior.

New York Post