Texas Roadhouse chain accused of age discrimination

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WASHINGTON — 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 Oct. 3 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 said the restaurant denies the charges. The chain has more than 350 restaurants in 46 states, including one in Duluth.

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