Sexual Harassment Suit Filed Against Krispy Kreme

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By By Molly Shen

Summary

Five former Krispy Kreme employees allege sexual harassment and discrimination at the Issaquah store and a distribution center.

Story Published: May 19, 2003 at 11:38 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:02 AM PDT

Sexual Harassment Suit Filed Against Krispy Kreme
SEATTLE - The Issaquah Krispy Kreme opened with great fanfare in October, 2001.

Now, five former workers are suing Krispy Kreme saying they were victims of sexual harassment and job discrimination almost from day one.

"We have to open up and speak to someone. It's not fair what they did," says former employee Vicky Rystad.

Four of the former workers say they were told they were let go because work was slow.

They think it was retaliation.

One woman, identified only as Jane Doe, spoke through Rystad as an interpreter. She says she was afraid she would lose her job if she didn't give in to a manager's demands.

"He wants to know if he could, whew," Rystad said, searching for the right words. "If he could… if she could give ... sex. It's worse than that."

The woman is an illegal alien sending money to support her children in Mexico. The other four are also Hispanic and here legally.

Their allegations range from a manager exposing himself to being passed over for promotions.

"They were instrumental in training some of the Caucasian coworkers who came in after them," explains attorney Mark Shepherd. "Workers who were paid more they were and advanced over their heads."

Krispy Kreme representatives did not speak on camera, but KremeWorks CEO Gerard Centioli issued this statement:

"We recently learned that five of our former employees have raised issues concerning the termination of their employment. We are reviewing the matter and will take appropriate action to resolve it on completing our review."

The workers want new policies against harassment.

"I gave it my life. I worked everyday," says Rystad. "I worked very hard. They worked very hard. We did everything we could because I thought that was going to be our retirement. Because we thought it was a good company to work for."

Krispy Kreme is opening a new Seattle store on Tuesday. Centioli will be there for the ribbon cutting and says he'll address the lawsuit then.

Trial is set for 2004.

Attorneys handling the suit say they believe there are other workers who have not yet come forward with allegations of harassment and discrimination. For more information on the suit, contact Larson, Hart and Shepherd in Seattle at (206) 340-2008.