Chipotle faces a lawsuit after a former employee at a Chipotle in Woodland Hills claimed wrongful termination and sexual harassment. Castaneda alleged that her managers used security cameras to spy on female customers. John Cádiz Klemack reports for NBC4 News at Noon on Thursday, March 17, 2016. (Published Thursday, March 17, 2016)
A former Chipotle employee sued the company Wednesday, alleging she and other female workers at one of its Southern California locations were sexually harassed by four managers who also used security cameras to spy on women customers they found attractive.
Ariana Castaneda is seeking unspecified damages on allegations of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation and discrimination. The plaintiff, who worked at a Woodland Hills Chipotle from December 2013 until she was fired Feb. 10, was a lead kitchen worker at the chain's Woodland Hills restaurant on Canoga Avenue, according to her court papers.
Read: Chipotle Lawsuit
"All four managers created a sexually charged atmosphere directed at female employees and customers," the lawsuit alleges.
Castaneda's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit names Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., along with four managers. A Chipotle spokesman said the company, as a matter of policy, does not comment on pending legal action.
Castaneda's position required her to wear a particular uniform, according to the lawsuit, which alleges she was purposely ordered a black uniform shirt for her that was too small. She claims that after she complained and asked for a larger shirt size, a manager said, "Is it because your [breasts] are too big?"
Another shirt ordered for Castaneda also was too small, according to the lawsuit, which also alleges a manager would try to forcibly hug her and would touch her under her shirt after putting his hands on ice or another cold substance.
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Managers also made inappropriate remarks about the breasts of a female former employee and mocked her because a customer made a critical remark about her on Yelp, the lawsuit alleges.
It was not immediately clear whether the managers named in the lawsuit are still working at the restaurant.
