Lawsuit alleges sexual harassment at Dunkin' Donuts

America may run on Dunkin', but a few of the doughnut giant's Westchester stores ran on harassment and hostility, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Young female workers were routinely victims of sexual harassment, including inappropriate comments, propositions and physical touching at stores in Elmsford, Ardsley and Dobbs Ferry, according to a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the Southern District of New York.

The EEOC blames the stores' franchise owner, Tarrytown-based Hillcrest Marshall, Inc., for what it calls "a hostile work environment" in which women in their late teens and early 20s were allegedly subjected to unwanted behavior from male superiors.

The lawsuit's primary accusations involve a manager who it says has worked at Hillcrest's stores since at least March 2011, including the Dunkin' Donuts at 91 East Main Street in Elmsford. He is accused of sexually harassing an 18-year-old woman who called police in January 2014 after he allegedly pushed or grabbed her on numerous occasions and smacked her in the face.

On multiple occasions, the lawsuit says, the manager allegedly tried to kiss the woman, rip her shirt off or grab her buttocks. She says she was eventually fired for contacting police about the harassment.

The EEOC claims Hillcrest allowed the manager and at least one other male superior, its director of operations, to foster an atmosphere of harassment.

Hillcrest did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

The EEOC wants the court to force Hillcrest to compensate the harassed women financially and implement improved policies protecting female employees.

Twitter: @MattSpillane