LBI's Playa Bowls Pays Teen $20K Sexual Harassment Settlement: AG

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — The Playa Bowls franchisee in Long Beach Island paid a 16-year-old girl a $20,000 settlement for alleged sexual harassment, NJ Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewel announced Thursday.

The teen, a server, said she was a victim of unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and sexually harassing behavior from her supervisor, according to the Office of Attorney General. She also witnessed her supervisor pushing another female coworker's head down toward his genitals, the OAG said.

The teenager claimed her supervisor, who the OAG did not name, inappropriately touched her back and arms on several occasions and also asked one of her coworkers if the complainant would have sex with him, the OAG said. The franchisee for LBI's Playa Bowls is Bowls & Dreams Corp, according to a Playa Bowls spokesperson.

A spokesperson for Playa Bowls said the organization met with the franchisee partners to assure there is new management and stricter enforcement of professional standards. They are reiterating this policy to all their franchises.

“Studies have shown that sexual harassment is pervasive in the restaurant industry,” Division on Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter said in a statement. “These settlements should encourage all restaurant owners to make clear to all employees and managers that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, to develop anti-sexual-harassment policies and procedures for employees to follow if they need to file complaints, and to provide training to managers and staff.”

Playa Bowls denied the allegations in full to the OAG but agreed to train their employees on sexual harassment prevention.

Clarification: The lawsuit pertains to Playa Bowls franchisee Bowls & Dreams Corp, not Playa Bowls themselves. The OAG's announcement did not mention Bowls & Dreams Corp.

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