The manager, Justin Nielson, reportedly made inappropriate sexual comments, asked the employee for photos of himself in his underwear, sent similar photos of his own, and ultimately assaulted the teenager during work hours.
The allegations are not in dispute. When arrested and questioned, Nielson admitted to some of the alleged assault, but denied performing oral sex on the victim. According to the indictment, when a detective told Nielson that the victim's genitals were being tested for DNA, he admitted to spitting on his hand, which he then used on the boy. Nielson pleaded guilty to second-degree forcible sexual abuse.
Despite the severity of these actions, the EEOC alleges that the company lacked proper training and reporting mechanisms, leaving the victim feeling unsafe to come forward.
This case underscores the critical need for robust safeguarding policies, especially for young workers in vulnerable positions. Employers must ensure safe environments and clear reporting channels to protect all employees from such egregious misconduct.
According to EEOC regional attorney Mary Jo O’Neill, "Young workers are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment because they have less work experience and may be afraid to report an older or more powerful harasser." EEOC District Director Melinda Caraballo adds, "As frequent employers of young people, fast food businesses must have strong systems in place to ensure that teenage workers are not sexually harassed by older managers, and that workers new to the workforce understand their rights when harassment occurs."
This fast food franchisor? It allegedly had none of those systems or safeguards in place. Which is why it earns the dishonor of being my 5th nominee for the Worst Employer of 2025.