Business ProfileforB&B Hospitality Group

The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

On 7/23/2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement with celebrity Chef Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich, their management company B&B Hospitality, and their restaurants Babbo, Lupa, and the now-closed Del Posto for fostering a hostile work environment that permitted a sexualized culture of misconduct and harassment at their restaurants in New York City. Following allegations of sexual harassment against Mario Batali in 2017, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) opened an investigation into these claims and found that B&B, Batali, and Bastianich had engaged in unlawful sex discrimination and retaliation, in violation of state and city human rights laws. The allegations reported unwanted touching, sexual advances, and explicit comments made by managers and coworkers to other employees of the restaurants. As a result of this investigation, B&B, Batali, and Bastianich must pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees, revise training materials in all B&B restaurants, and submit biannual reports to the OAG to certify compliance with the agreement.

The agreement was the culmination of a four-year investigation into allegations against Batali and Bastianich both individually as employers and on behalf of B&B and their restaurants. More than 20 employees were subjected to a hostile work environment in which female and male employees were sexually harassed by Batali, restaurant managers, and other coworkers between 2016 to 2019.

The B&B employers failed to take appropriate action when confronted with reports of sexual harassment, often failed to investigate complaints, and discouraged the reporting of such incidents. Complaints to management were generally dismissed with minimal or no action taken against the harassers. 

In addition to paying $600,000 to the workers, the agreement stipulates the revision of training materials in all B&B restaurants, as well as biannual reports to certify compliance with the agreement. Batali, Bastianich, and B&B have agreed to implement more comprehensive training geared towards fostering a safe, healthy work environment. They will also submit biannual reports to the OAG to certify compliance with this settlement, including records of harassment and discrimination trainings and policies for the next three years.