Bahama Breeze to Settle Racial Harassment Suit for $1.26 Million

Cleveland, OH: Bahama Breeze, a popular national restaurant chain, has agreed to pay $1.26 million to settle allegations of racial harassment brought in a class action on behalf of 37 African American employees.

The plaintiffs, represented by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, allege that managers at a Bahama Breeze franchise in the Cleveland area, located on Orange Place, "committed numerous and persistent acts of racial harassment, frequently addressing black staff with slurs."

Apparently, there were six 'problematic' managers in place at the time the allegations were brought, and who contributed to workplace hostility.

In addition to the money, which reportedly will work out to about $34,000 per plaintiff, Bahama Breeze has agreed to institute new on-the-job safeguards aimed at preventing racist behavior.