Former Waffle House employee Marilyn Smith alleges that her manager repeatedly touched her inappropriately while the company overlooked her complaints.

Former Waffle House Employee Alleges Sexual Harassment

A woman who previously worked as a chef at Waffle House has alleged that she felt compelled to leave her job due to ongoing inappropriate behavior from her boss. She claims that her complaints were ignored, and, shockingly, the company ended up blaming her for the harassment.

Marilyn Smith started her role as a grill operator in July 2024. According to a federal lawsuit, it wasn’t long before her male supervisor began touching her improperly. She recounted instances of him groping her and continuously grabbing her backside while she was trying to work. Despite her numerous requests for him to stop, his behavior allegedly persisted.

This South Carolina resident sought help from a district manager at the restaurant chain, but, as she claims, her complaints went unaddressed.

Smith reports that the lack of action only intensified her boss’s inappropriate conduct. Within seven months of her employment, instead of protecting her, the company penalized her, siding with the alleged harasser. Eventually, she felt she had no choice but to resign, as stated in her December 23 filing.

The complaint describes her situation as “constructively dismissed due to persistent sexual harassment in the workplace,” suggesting her choice to leave was, in a way, not truly voluntary.

Commenting on the situation, attorney Matthew King, representing Smith, said that her case highlights a troubling trend where harassment is still prevalent in workplaces. He noted that there seems to be a protective attitude among managers that can leave hourly workers feeling powerless. Smith’s brave decision to file this lawsuit aims to ensure that no one else has to bear what she went through.

The former employee, who earned at least $10 an hour, is now seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, in addition to both compensatory and punitive damages as part of her complaint.