The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is calling on male job seekers who were not hired by Kickback Jack’s restaurants in North Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia to come forward as potential claimants in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the agency.
The federal suit, filed Sept. 25, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, North Carolina, alleges that Battleground Restaurants, Inc., and Battleground Restaurant Group, Inc. — which operate under the Kickback Jack’s brand — systematically failed or refused to hire men for front-of-house roles such as server, bartender, and host positions since December 2019.
According to the EEOC, such practices violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex.
Focus on front-of-house roles
The lawsuit centers on non-managerial roles that involve direct interaction with customers. The EEOC alleges that qualified male applicants were either denied these positions or hired into different roles, raising concerns of sex-based bias in hiring practices across Kickback Jack’s locations in three states.
The agency is now seeking to identify male individuals who applied for server, bartender, or host positions at any Kickback Jack’s restaurant since December 2019 but were not hired. These individuals may be eligible to join the ongoing litigation as claimants.
Federal law prohibits sex-based hiring discrimination
The EEOC’s action aims to enforce federal protections that ensure applicants are evaluated based on qualifications, not gender. While sex-based hiring discrimination can affect individuals of any gender, the lawsuit specifically focuses on potential disadvantages faced by male applicants at the restaurant chain.
“Refusing to hire individuals because of their sex is a clear violation of federal law,” the EEOC said in its announcement.
The agency has encouraged affected individuals to contact its office directly to determine whether they may qualify for relief in the case.
