×
Friday, October 9, 2026

Applebee's grilled with sexual orientation, race discrimination lawsuit - HRD America

Branch of the restaurant chain agrees to pay six-figure fine as settlement

A branch of the well-known restaurant chain Applebee’s recently faced a discrimination lawsuit over sexual orientation and race.

Neighborhood Restaurant Partners (NRP) Florida, LLC, which operates an Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill restaurant in Plant City, FL, agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the lawsuit, the qual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said in a press release.

The federal agency said it filed the lawsuit against the company after it allegedly violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, and retaliation.

Applebee’s, as well as popular chain restaurant IHOP, are owned by Glendale, CA-based Dine Brands Global.

Discrimination in the workplace

Based on EEOC’s lawsuit, two restaurant staff verbally harassed a Black employee by continuously subjecting him to racial and homophobic epithets.

“In addition to making derogatory comments, one of the harassers wore Confederate flag paraphernalia while he was working at the restaurant,” the EEOC said.

The federal agency also said that during the cases of harassment, the employee complained to the restaurant management, yet, the employer never took any appropriate actions. “Eventually, the employee attempted to contact NRP’s corporate offices. After this, his scheduled hours were cut, and he was forced to quit,” the EEOC said.

According to the federal agency, the three-year...



Read Full Story: https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employment-law/applebees-grilled-wit...