Racial hostility | Hooters settles $250,000 lawsuit alleging it recalled “mostly white” employees post-Covid

Hooters, the restaurant chain famous for its “Hooters Girls” and chicken wings has agreed to settle a $250,000 lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against employees.

The lawsuit was filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The federal agency announced the settlement Wednesday.

As well as paying damages to affected employees across four locations in Greensboro, North Carolina, Hooters has also been ordered by the federal agency to avoid making layoff, recall, or rehire decisions based on race or color alongside further requirements including training, compliance reports, and to post on Instagram that it is an equal opportunity employer.

Hooters sued over racial discrimination and hostility

The EEOC’s lawsuit, filed in August 2023, reported that a Hooters restaurant in North Carolina temporarily laid off 43 employees following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.