If you’ve been to Texas Roadhouse Restaurants and seen only younger-looking people in “front of the house” positions like hostess and server, it’s no accident, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says.
Earlier this month the EEOC charged the Kentucky-based chain with engaging in a pattern-or-practice of discrimination by not hiring violating persons over 40 years of age for “front-of-the-house” positions such as servers, hosts and bartenders.
The EEOC filed its pattern-or-practice suit against the Kentucky-based chain in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
According to the EEOC’s press release on the case: “The EEOC alleged that Texas Roadhouse has hired significantly few “front of the house” employees 40 or older in age. In addition, Texas Roadhouse allegedly instructed its managers to hire younger job applicants. For example, Texas Roadhouse emphasized youth when training managers about hiring employees for its restaurants. All of the images of employees in its training and employment manuals are of young people.”
The Commission also alleged that Texas Roadhouse’s hiring officials have told older unsuccessful applicants across the nation that “there are younger people here who can grow with the company;” “you seem older to be applying for this job” and “do you think you would fit in?” Officials also said that the restaurant was “a younger set environment;” “we are looking for people on the younger side… but you have a lot of experience;” and “how do you feel about working with younger people?”
