Kirstie and Courtney McKeever alleged they suffered harassment by a male co-worker at KFC on the Boucher Road, Belfast.

The women alleged they reported the incidents to supervisors and managers but they continued and, in the end, the pair quit their jobs.

In settling the case, Herbel Restaurants (trading as KFC) reaffirmed its commitment to equality of opportunity in the workplace and agreed to meet the Commission to review its policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are fully compliant with its legal obligations.

Dr Evelyn Collins, CBE, chief executive of the Equality Commission, said: “It is unacceptable that, decades after it was established that sexual harassment constitutes unlawful sex discrimination, we are still witnessing cases such as Kirstie’s and Courtney’s. Here were two young women who simply wanted a part-time job to earn some money like so many other teenagers. What should have given these young women useful experience of the workplace instead became an ordeal that caused them great distress.”

Dr Collins added: “All employees are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. When complaints of the type of behaviour described arise, they have to be investigated and dealt with immediately and appropriate action taken.

“Employers should ensure that they have appropriate procedures in place to ensure harassment does not occur; they should not wait until an issue arises before considering how they might deal with it.

“Both sisters alleged that they complained to their superiors about the treatment they experienced but their complaints were not effectively dealt with.

“It is essential that employers make sure that all their staff are aware of and understand their equal opportunities policies and that their managers and supervisory staff know the importance of acting on them.

“The Company has, as part of the settlement, been meeting the Commission to review its policies and practices and to arrange training for its staff, managers and supervisors so that these matters are properly addressed in the future.”Two sisters from Belfast have settled sexual harassment claims against the owner of KFC restaurants for £14,000 and £16,000 respectively with the support of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Kirstie and Courtney McKeever (pictured) alleged they suffered harassment by a male co-worker at KFC on the Boucher Road, Belfast.

The women alleged they reported the incidents to supervisors and managers but they continued and, in the end, the pair quit their jobs.

In settling the case, Herbel Restaurants (trading as KFC) reaffirmed its commitment to equality of opportunity in the workplace and agreed to meet the Commission to review its policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are fully compliant with its legal obligations.

Dr Evelyn Collins, CBE, chief executive of the Equality Commission, said: “It is unacceptable that, decades after it was established that sexual harassment constitutes unlawful sex discrimination, we are still witnessing cases such as Kirstie’s and Courtney’s. Here were two young women who simply wanted a part-time job to earn some money like so many other teenagers. What should have given these young women useful experience of the workplace instead became an ordeal that caused them great distress.”

Dr Collins added: “All employees are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. When complaints of the type of behaviour described arise, they have to be investigated and dealt with immediately and appropriate action taken.

“Employers should ensure that they have appropriate procedures in place to ensure harassment does not occur; they should not wait until an issue arises before considering how they might deal with it.

“Both sisters alleged that they complained to their superiors about the treatment they experienced but their complaints were not effectively dealt with.

“It is essential that employers make sure that all their staff are aware of and understand their equal opportunities policies and that their managers and supervisory staff know the importance of acting on them.

“The Company has, as part of the settlement, been meeting the Commission to review its policies and practices and to arrange training for its staff, managers and supervisors so that these matters are properly addressed in the future.”