Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain sued by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging age discrimination; EEOC says chain told managers to hire younger job applicants for certain positions

Cindy Allen

WASHINGTON , October 3, 2011 (Associated Press) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit accusing the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain of age discrimination in hiring "front of the house" employees.

The lawsuit claims the Kentucky-based chain instructed its managers to hire younger job applicants for positions such as servers, hosts and bartenders. The EEOC says some rejected applicants over 40 were told the restaurant was "looking for people on the younger side."

The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Boston, where some of the actions allegedly took place. The suit seeks monetary relief for those illegally denied employment, new policies to prevent age bias and anti-discrimination training for restaurant managers and employees.

Spokesman Travis Doster says the restaurant denies the charges. The chain has more than 350 restaurants in 46 states.

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