Wall Street Grill: Tolerance of Sexual Harassment
In New York, the EEOC filed suit on behalf of Alina Cuetlatch, a former pastry cook at Wall Street Grill who endured persistent sexual harassment from male coworkers. According to the complaint, male staff routinely made crude jokes, mimicked sexual acts using vegetables, watched pornography in the kitchen, and subjected Cuetlatch to non-consensual touching and sabotage after she rejected romantic advances.
When she brought her complaints to the executive chef, the agency says her concerns were ignored. The work environment eventually became so intolerable that Cuetlatch resigned in August 2022.
As part of its settlement, Wall Street Grill will pay $45,000 in damages and overhaul its workplace policies. The new anti-harassment guidelines will be distributed in both English and Spanish, and the owner will deliver an annual video message emphasizing the company’s zero-tolerance stance on harassment. All staff will be required to attend sexual harassment training.
Wall Street Grill’s attorney, Keith Gutstein of Kaufman Dolowich LLP, said the restaurant denies the EEOC’s allegations but resolved the matter “in full compliance with the law.”
The EEOC declined to comment. Morton Salt has not responded to requests for a statement.
