Supervisors and managers in the workplace are certainly in a position of authority. That's magnified when their employees are young and vulnerable. Unfortunately, some managers abuse that sort of power.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against several corporations in relation to a 15-year-old ex-employee's sexual harassment at a Subway shop in the Virginia Beach area. The girl claims she was subjected to verbal and physical harassment, as well as a hostile work environment, on a daily basis.

The girl was hired as a "sandwich artist" at the shop when she was 15 in 2007, according to the Virginian Pilot. At that time, the store manager was at least 30 years old and served as her direct supervisor.

The young employee claims the manager harassed her and constantly asked for sex. He apparently made sexual comments, touched her behind, told her he loved her and sent her suggestive text messages. The girl says she gave in and had sex with the man on three different occasions.

She resigned in June 2008, by which time she was 16. The girl's father tried calling Subway's corporate offices in Connecticut, but was told to talk to the store owner, who was not identified.

It was not reported whether the manager was arrested or charged in relation to the ex-employee's accusations, or whether he still worked at the Subway franchise.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Norfolk and identifies nine corporations as defendants.

Source: HamptonRoads.com, "Va. Beach Subway shop sued in harassment case," Tim McGlone, Sept. 13, 2011