Real Florida Restaurant Fines: True Cases & Lessons Learned

⚖️ 10 Real Florida Restaurant HR Violations — and How They Could Have Been Avoided

1. Lago Mar Resort & Beach Club (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Violation: Failed to accommodate an employee's request for leave following a stillbirth, violating the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Date: October 11, 2024
Fine: $100,000 in damages
Outcome: Required to revise policies, provide training, and appoint an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) coordinator.
🔗 Read the HR Dive

SHRM-CP Compliance Tip:

Develop and implement a comprehensive pregnancy accommodation policy.
Provide training to all employees on the rights of pregnant workers under the PWFA and ADA.
Establish a clear process for requesting and granting accommodations related to pregnancy.

2. Crab Knight (Daytona Beach, FL)

Violation: Age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA); the kitchen manager repeatedly made discriminatory comments about an employee’s age and fired her.
Date: September 30, 2024
Fine: $30,000 in monetary relief
Outcome: Required to revise age discrimination policies, provide annual training to all staff, and report complaints to the EEOC.
🔗 Read the EEOC Press

SHRM-CP Compliance Tip:

Implement mandatory annual training on age discrimination for all employees.
Establish clear anti-discrimination policies and reporting mechanisms.
Regularly audit hiring and termination practices to ensure compliance with ADEA.

3. Orlando Float (Orlando, FL)

Violation: Pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; terminated an employee after she requested leave following a stillbirth.
Date: February 3, 2020
Fine: $27,000 in damages
Outcome: Required to revise policies, provide training, and appoint an EEO coordinator.
🔗 Read the EEOC Press

SHRM-CP Compliance Tip:

Develop and implement a comprehensive pregnancy accommodation policy.
Provide training to all employees on the rights of pregnant workers under Title VII.
Establish a clear process for requesting and granting accommodations related to pregnancy.

4. J's Seafood Restaurant (Panama City, FL)

Violation: Pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; terminated two employees upon learning of their pregnancies.
Date: September 27, 2012
Fine: Monetary damages and reinstatement (specific amount not disclosed)
Outcome: Required to reinstate employees and provide training on pregnancy discrimination.
🔗 Read the EEOC Press

SHRM-CP Compliance Tip:

Implement mandatory training on pregnancy discrimination for all employees.
Establish clear anti-discrimination policies and reporting mechanisms.
Regularly audit hiring and termination practices to ensure compliance with Title VII.

5. Presidente Supermarket No. 31 (Miami, FL)

Violation: Pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; terminated an employee upon learning of her pregnancy.
Date: May 16, 2022
Fine: $75,000 in damages
Outcome: Required to provide training on pregnancy discrimination and report complaints to the EEOC.
🔗 Read the EEOC Press

SHRM-CP Compliance Tip:

Develop and implement a comprehensive pregnancy accommodation policy.
Provide training to all employees on the rights of pregnant workers under Title VII.
Establish a clear process for requesting and granting accommodations related to pregnancy.