Texas Roadhouse Accused of Discriminatory Hiring Practices in Civil Rights Complaint

Texas Roadhouse is under scrutiny following a civil rights complaint lodged by America First Legal (AFL), which alleges that the restaurant chain's hiring and leadership selection processes unlawfully incorporate race and gender considerations. The complaint, submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claims that Texas Roadhouse violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over meritocratic hiring standards. AFL accuses the company of favoring demographic representation in recruitment and promotion practices, including monitoring employees' race, gender, and ethnicity to meet internal diversity objectives. The organization warns that such practices could jeopardize the company's reputation and lead to shareholder lawsuits. Despite publicly emphasizing its commitment to creating a diverse workforce that reflects its customers, Texas Roadhouse's 2024 10-K filing reveals that DEI factors are integrated into decision-making processes for board nominations, alongside traditional criteria like expertise and governance experience. AFL's complaint suggests these policies may breach fiduciary duties a...