Ex-employees allege sexual harassment at Tilted Kilt

Nineteen former employees at the Tilted Kilt’s Chicago location filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the sports bar, which is known for servers who wear skimpy Celtic-themed outfits.

The women filed the federal suit Wednesday, which accuses a manager at the downtown location of making sexually suggestive comments to the workers, grabbing at least one worker’s breasts and retaliating against women who complained.

The sports bar has franchise locations in Schaumburg, Elgin, Roselle, Oakbrook Terrace and Vernon Hills.

In June 2011, all 19 women filed charges of harassment and retaliation with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and received “right to sue” letters on all of their charges in early February.

The lawsuit lists 28 specific complaints against the manager, including:

Ÿ Stating to one or more of the plaintiffs “Meow, meow — you’re a dirty kitty” and “You don’t know what I’d like to do to you.”

Ÿ Licking one or more of the plaintiffs’ ears.

The lawsuit states the harassment began around the time of the opening in 2009 and continued until after the plaintiffs filed the EEOC charges.

Women who complained of the sexual harassment were given limited or poor shifts, assigned to tables that would make them less money, and were refused promotions when other workers who did not complain were promoted, according to the lawsuit.