(Image Source: French Fry Diary)

BY KERRY LEARY

ANCHOR ERICA COGHILL

You're watching multisource video news analysis from Newsy.


Looking for a job? According to a new lawsuit, if you’re 40-plus years old, you need not apply to any Texas Roadhouse Restaurant in the country.

The Coloradoan says a lawsuit filed Monday alleges the restaurant - which is based in Kentucky - has been discriminating against older applicants for visible hourly jobs.

So-called “visible jobs” include anyone that can actually be seen working at the restaurant- according to KOLD.

“The lawsuit claims ‘Texas Roadhouse’ instructed its managers to hire younger job applications for positions such as servers, hosts, and bartenders. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says some applicants over 40 were told the restaurant was looking for younger help.”

The court document has alleged quotes from Texas Roadhouse employees in charge of hiring -- 

“Defendants’ hiring officials have told older unsuccessful applicants that ‘there are younger people here who can grow with the company’ and ‘we’re hiring for greeters but we need the young, hot ones who are ‘chipper’ and stuff”; and, ‘I’m basically looking for young teenagers.’”

But a spokesman for the chain has released a statement denying the charges saying...

“We are fully prepared to defend against these baseless claims.”

Nonetheless - some of the media discussion has turned to the problem of ageism. The Huffington Post reports-- it’s becoming common in this economy.

“The EEOC has seen a rise in the number of age discrimination complaints filed since the economy soured. At the same time, the burden of proof has become greater for the complainants... workers must prove age discrimination was the overriding factor leading to the unfair employment decision.”

Transcript by Newsy.