Waikiki sports bar owners sued over harassment

The U.S. Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Commission is suing the owners of Snapper’s Sports Bar and Grill and Snap-ette Beach and Liquor Store in Waikiki for allegedly sexually harassing female employees.

The class-action lawsuit against Pacific Fun Enterprises LLC, doing business as Snapper’s, said multiple workers complained that the bar’s owner, Michael Wenzel, along with its managers and customers, “subjected female employees to repeated sexual harassment in the form of unwelcome sexual comments, un­wanted touching and leering at the female employees’ body parts.”

Wenzel didn’t respond to multiple calls seeking comment. Snapper’s is in the Discovery Bay Center on Ala Moana Boulevard.

Following employee complaints, the company failed to take corrective action, and the employees left the job to avoid further harassment, the federal agency said.

The EEOC complaint, initially filed with the agency by server Jessica Root, said Wenzel subjected her to “regular and repeated sexual harassment” from February 2011 to March 2015, including calling her degrading names, ripping her bikini top in front of patrons and making lewd comments about other female employees.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court seeking back pay, benefits and other damages, said Wenzel tried to kiss an employee and required female workers to wear cut-up shirts and shorter shorts to “reveal more skin.” The EEOC did not make public the names of the other affected workers.

Despite Root’s complaints that she was offended, distressed and humiliated, Wenzel continued the harassment and reduced her work shifts.

The website of Snapper’s says, “Having relocated to Oahu from Wisconsin, the Wenzels maintain a friendly midwest attitude here at Snapper’s. … At Snapper’s, our staff is our ohana. We work as a team to make Snapper’s a fun and friendly environment for everyone.”

Glory Gervacio Saure, director of the EEOC Honolulu office, said, “We continue to see sexual harassment cases here locally. It is still pervasive and widespread. We hope that employers, especially owners, take note that as models of their company they should reflect the integrity of a good work environment.”