This One Doesn't Pass The Smell Test

John Johnson, a Salt Lake City Massage Envy franchisee, allegedly forced two of his female employees to allow him to smell their feet. According to one of the plaintiffs, "Mr. Johnson stated that he enjoyed when her feet stunk and that it just made him more of a slave to her. Mr. Johnson proceeded to rub Ms. Provost's feet over his face and sniffed them in a lustful manner."

Two women who worked at a Massage Envy franchise claim their boss offered them money to smell their feet. One claims that after he 'forcefully grabbed' her feet and took off her shoes, he 'sniffed them in a lustful manner.' The other woman claims franchise owner John Johnson offered her 'up to $30,000 per month' and a BMW if she would let him do it.     Courthouse News Service

Placing this in a more serious perspective, do franchisors require the establishment of anti-discrimination and sexual harrassment guidelines and, if so, is there any legal liability on the franchisor's end?  The complaint continues: "A district manager for Massage Envy Ltd., L.L.C., was informed of the incidents and stated that Mr. John Johnson was a franchisee, and corporate headquarters could not control a franchisee, and he could 'Do what he wants.' "