Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc settled a gender discrimination lawsuit case filed by two women who were both former general managers of the said stores in Cincinnati. The plaintiffs were among the former employees who filed similar lawsuits, alleging sex discrimination.
Former employees, Cristie Reynolds and Kerri Breeze's lawsuit against the fast food chain on Denver was separately filed from the first three plaintiffs who recently won the case and were awarded with $600,000 on the February ruling, 9News reported. The terms of the settlement was not revealed in the public.
Plaintiff, Reynolds previously worked on Chipotle store chain in Oxford on February 2004. Her lawsuit stated, she was promoted several times, before she became the store's general manager in 2007. Then, after a series of demotions, she was eventually terminated from her position.
While on the other hand, Breeze started was employed in December 2008, on Chipotle's branch in Kenwood Towne Centre area. According to Cincinnati.com, same case with Reynolds, she was also promoted several times and was eventually terminated.
Because of the numerous plaintiffs filed against the food store chain, District Court Judge Sandra Beckwith separated the cases. "It is ordered that this action is hereby dismissed with prejudice, provided that any of the parties may, upon good cause shown within fifteen (15) days, reopen the action if settlement is not consummated," Beckwith wrote. Settlement terms were not also revealed in the public.
The women claimed Chipotle Mexican Grill wrongly fired them because the food chain stores more prefer a male general manager. They also claimed male managers were given special treatment than females, even though both or have better performance evaluations or audits, Denver Business Journal reported.
"We are very pleased this matter has been resolved," the representing for the women, Kelly Mulloy Myers said. Another plaintiff sued the fast food chain over her Family Medical Leave Act claim, and won an additional $116,000 for the said case.
Sex Discrimination "involves treating someone, an applicant or employee, unfavorably because of that person's sex, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The federal law forbids this kind of discrimination in any aspects in employment.
