In cases dating back to 2015, some young female staff of Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants in New Zealand, including then-high school students, alleged they were harassed and assaulted by their male managers, and, in one instance, raped by a male supervisor.
The women accused the parent, Restaurant Brands, with 4,000 workers, of failing to properly investigate the allegations and keep them from harm. In one case, a teenage Pizza Hut worker alleged her supervisor raped her three times at the restaurant. That victim is one of three complainants who filed formal sexual harassment claims against Restaurant Brands with the Human Rights Commission over the last few months.
Harassment ranged from unwanted physical contact, comments, texts and, in one case, physical threats. In one instance, the company continued to pay one manager as investigations of allegations against him were ongoing, but the company made the alleged victim use her leave.
In the case involving the rape, Pizza Hut supervisor, Dilbagh "Sonny" Singh, raped the then 17-year-old subordinate three times within two weeks last year. Christchurch District Court this past October convicted Singh of three counts of rape and sentenced him to nine years, six months in prison.