A former employee of Panda Express said he was forced to wear underwear against colleagues and strangers during a “trust-building” exercise, according to a civil complaint.
Jennifer Spargifier, 23, sued in Los Angeles County Superior Court last month. Panda Express and Alive Seminars and Coaching Academy, a self-improvement consulting outfit that led the exercise, have been named as defendants.
According to the filing, Spargfire operated for the Panda Express from August 10, 2016 to July 15, 2019, primarily in the northern LA county suburb of Santa Clarita.
He said live seminars are often a “prerequisite for promotion”, so attendees have to provide their work ID number so that seminar fees “can be credited directly from their Panda Express employee’s account.”
The lawsuit alleges that the lengthy sessions “turned out to be strange and quickly turned into mental abuse.”
During a session on July 13, 2019, Spargfire was forced to perform an “exercise” in which he was forced to take off his underwear in the guise of a “trust building”.
“She was almost naked in front of strangers and co-workers – she was very upset, but was suppressed because she knew it was her only chance at promotion,” the lawsuit states. “Meanwhile, the Alive seminar staff was openly ogling women in their clothes, smiling and laughing.”
Later in the exercise, Spargfire and a male participant, even under his underwear, were forced to stand in front of the group, “hugging him.”
The lawsuit alleges that over time, the seminar became more and more like a cult initiation.
After Spargifier left the seminar as early as possible, it was reportedly terminated constructively with the Panda Express in July 2019.
The lawsuit alleges that Spurgifier suffered a sexual battery injury due to a hostile work environment and emotional distress.
The parent company of Panda Restaurant Group, Rosemade, California-based Panda Express, said it was conducting its own investigation into the allegations made in the lawsuit.
A statement from the company on Wednesday said, “We do not support the kind of behavior described in the lawsuit, and it is deeply ingrained in us.” We are committed to providing a safe environment for all partners and to stand behind our core values. Treat everyone with respect. ”
The company also sought to distance itself from co-defendant Alive, calling it a “third-party organization” in which Panda has no proprietary interest and over which it has no control. “
“The Panda Restaurant Group does not have the mandate to participate in Alive Seminars and Coaching Academy, nor does it need to get a BT,” the company said.
Wednesday could not immediately be reached for comment. In a statement to the Orange County Register, the organization said its training sessions are presented with respect and dignity.
