Seasons 52 Not Looking for 'Old White Guys,' Federal Lawsuit Alleges

By Sherri Lonon (Patch Staff)

Anyone over the age of 40 looking for employment in the restaurant industry need not apply to Seasons 52.

At least that’s the contention of a lawsuit filed by against the chain by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Thursday. The restaurant chain has “denied older workers positions at its newly opened restaurants throughout the country” since at least 2010, the government agency alleges.

The agency claims that Seasons 52, which has a location at the Mall in Columbia, has denied job applicants positions based solely on their age—40 and up. The discrimination extends to both “front of the house” and “back of the house” positions, the agency noted in a media release.

See Also:

• Seasons 52 Opens at Columbia Mall
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• 8 Things To Do If You’re Being Targeted for Age Discrimination

The lawsuit alleges that Season 52 told unsuccessful applicants such things as they were “too experienced,” the restaurant was seeking a youthful image, it wanted “fresh” employees and that it “wasn’t looking for old white guys,” the release states.

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Seasons 52 is a Darden restaurant brand. Orlando-based Darden owns 43 Seasons 52 locations across 18 states, including eateries in Columbia and Bethesda. Darden is also the parent company for such restaurants as Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze, among others.

The lawsuit pertains only to the Seasons 52 chain.

Job applicants who believe they were denied positions at Seasons 52 because of their age or who have information related to the case are asked to contact the EEOC at 1-844-816-7877 or via email at seasons52.lawsuit@eeoc.gov.

Photos from the Seasons 52 preview before grand opening in Columbia by Elizabeth Janney; August 2014.