A former Burger King employee claims she experienced a hostile work environment and discrimination based on her sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Plaintiff Melisa "Mark" Hayes filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Broadway Restaurant Group LLC, doing business as Burger King.
The complaint asserts that from October 2022 until her termination in January 2023, Hayes was subjected to different terms and conditions of employment than others not within her protected class. She claims that her manager harassed her about her clothing being "too feminine," despite being in uniform. Furthermore, when she greeted her significant other with a kiss in the lobby during non-customer hours, she was threatened with disciplinary action.
Hayes allegedly reported these incidents to the company's Human Resources department but claims no action was taken to address the ongoing discrimination and harassment. The lawsuit seeks redress under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
She is represented by attorney Mohammed O. Badwan of Sulaiman Law Group LTD in Lombard, Ill.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:23-cv-03795