Chuck E. Cheese Operators Facing Multiple Allegations of Sexual Harassment

No workplace is immune to sexual harassment problems. Members of the clergy, human resources personnel and others who should know better sometimes engage in this type of illegal behavior. Even a family restaurant focused on entertaining children can be a setting where managers try to pressure employees, including minors, into sexual relationships. 

In four separate lawsuits, employees of a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Charleston, West Virginia have claimed that they were the victims of sexual harassment and/or unlawful retaliation. The complaints detail inappropriate touching and other misconduct by the location’s manager, Ryan Slade. Two of the plaintiffs were not yet 18 years old when the alleged incidents occurred. 

As a 17-year-old, Kylie Wright says Slade used his authority in an attempt to lure her into a sexual relationship, a practice sometimes referred to as “grooming.”  Wright alleges that he also engaged in unwanted physical contact with her. She quit, and though her mother notified the Chuck E. Cheese corporate office about their employee’s misconduct, no apparent action was taken. Another former employee at the restaurant said that the manager made multiple sexual remarks relating to her pregnancy.  

Moreover, a former assistant manager alleges that he faced retaliation after attempting to address these concerns. According to his lawsuit, he reported the harassment to a district manager, seeking assistance in order to protect his colleagues. However, rather than receiving support in his efforts to stop the unlawful behavior, he says he was subjected to targeted mistreatment, including unjustified disciplinary warnings, that ultimately led to his termination.

All sexual harassment and retaliation claims should be taken seriously, but the inclusion of minors in this case adds an additional layer of severity, as employers owe a heightened duty of care to protect young workers from harmful work environments. No matter your age, you have the right to work without facing pressure to have sex with your boss or another supervisor. 

Kardell Law Group stands up for victims of sexual harassment on the job. Whether you’re being pressured into a relationship, peppered with offensive comments about your body or facing retaliation for reporting a supervisor’s misconduct, we have the skill and experience to handle your case.