Sea Creatures restaurant group union alleges that new employee agreements include a waiver against jury trial if sexually assaulted at work, and more

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZyREkCaZ8/?img_index=1

Sea Creatures is a local restaurant group owned by James Beard award-winning chef Renee Erickson. These restaurants include Jeffry’s, Wilmott’s Ghost, The Walrus & The Carpenter, and more.

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“Want to work for Renee Erickson? All you have to do is sign away your right to a jury if you are sexually assaulted while working for her.

Yup, you read that right.. To work at any of Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures restaurants, employees are required to sign paperwork that severely limits their legal rights. Instead of a public court of law, disputes are pushed into private arbitration, behind closed doors and away from public view.

Workers are forbidden from participating in class action lawsuits and collective litigation when there are multiple victims. In 2022 it became illegal to force arbitration on victims of sexual assault and harassment, but Sea Creatures found a workaround. Employees are required to waive their right to a jury if they are survivors of these crimes. It’s almost like Renee’s company is more concerned with avoiding accountability than protecting her employees.

What are your thoughts? Should your celebrity boss have the power to limit your legal options in the event you are assaulted at work? The unionized workers at these restaurants don’t think it should be up to her.”