Outcome: Confidential settlement
On behalf of several managers and other female employees, the national chain of upscale steakhouses, Ruth’s Chris, faced allegations of creating and maintaining a work environment that is openly hostile and discriminatory towards women. This lawsuit was not merely a challenge to individual instances of discrimination or harassment but aimed to hold Ruth’s Chris accountable for a pervasive culture of sexism that contradicts the company’s public image of supporting women’s empowerment.
The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2010 by four current and former employees in the Washington, D.C. area, highlighted a deep-rooted culture of sexism allegedly pervasive throughout the organization. The women employees alleged they were discriminated against on pay and promotions, as well as experienced a work environment full of sexual advances, physical groping, and innuendo. The parties ultimately reached a confidential settlement.