NEW YORK Tavern on the Green, a landmark New York City restaurant, has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Monday.
The fine-dining establishment also reportedly agreed to set up an employee complaint hotline and to distribute a statement of its policies on discrimination and retaliation.
The lawsuit had been filed on behalf of Martha Nyakim Gatkuoth, a hostess, and four other employees. It accused certain Tavern on the Green managers and employees of harassing black and Hispanic women during the past eight years.
Lawyers for the EEOC said they were pleased with the settlement and hoped it would “provide appropriate relief for the individuals who have been harmed. We are likewise glad that this employer is taking proactive measures to ensure a discrimination-free workplace.”
Tavern on the Green reputedly is one of the highest grossing independently owned restaurants in the United States, with annual revenues of more than $34 million.