Federal Court May Decide If Employers Can Reject Older Job Seekers to Protect Image

[Jimbo101]

https://www.propublica.org/article/federal-court-may-decide-if-employers-can-reject-older-job-applicants

Texas Roadhouse is a nationwide chain of steakhouses with a casual vibe, a partner in country singer Willie Nelson and, according to federal officials, a history of labeling workers over 40 such things as “Old ‘N Chubby” and rejecting them for jobs where the customers see them.

A lawsuit being heard by a federal district court jury in Boston has broad implications beyond the allegation that the Louisville, Kentucky-based company has engaged in a “pattern and practice” of discriminating against older job applicants since 2007.

For one thing, the scope and origins of the suit are unusual for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the nation’s job discrimination laws.

Covering almost 500 stores and thousands of workers, it is the largest age discrimination case the EEOC has brought to trial in more than three decades. And in bringing it, the agency has resurrected a legal tool against systemic bias that it made little use of for years — conducting its own investigations and filing suit, rather than waiting for individuals to submit complaints, then giving them permission to sue for the most part on their own.

The defense not only argues the discrimination charges against the company are wrong, but that EEOC has no authority under the law to bring systemic cases. Moreover, the court battle is coming to a head just as the agency faces a new, aggressively pro-business, anti-regulatory administration in Washington that may not endorse such tactics.

[doc03]

1. No now we will doubledown on age discrimination thanks Trump

[angstlessk]

2. Wait a minute...how old and chubby is Willie Nelson?

[kacekwl]

3. Sounds like trump will be out of a job.

I'm his employer and his appearance certainly is bad for the image of the USA.

[ProudLib72]

4. exactly what I was thinking n/t