McCormick and Schmick's Faces Discrimination Lawsuit

Baltimore, MDOn Monday April 21, 2008, McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurants were accused by the federal government for approximately ten years of discrimination against African American applicants and employees in their Baltimore restaurants. This comes right after another case in which, on April 3, the company made the decision to settle a discrimination case in San Francisco for $1.1 million.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit in Baltimore, alleging that McCormick and Schmick's had a practice in which they weeded out African Americans applying for a job with the company and gave less than desirable shifts to existing employees. They were also accused of publishing job ads that stated a preference for all but African American employees. The EEOC says that the company has segregated their African American applicants, placing them in certain positions at one of the restaurants because of their race. Of these positions is assigning an African American employee to a smaller table or to tables with African American customers.

EEOC lawyer Jacqueline McNair says that there is evidence supporting a pattern within the company that they practice discrimination against African Americans.

In response to the allegations, McCormick and Schmick's public relations company has said on behalf of the defendants that they are an equal opportunity employer that has policies against harassment and discrimination. It further states that it is not their policy to discuss any claims that have been made against them, especially if such comments can impair their ability to resolve those claims.

The case in San Francisco that was settled early in April is the result of a claim that was filed in 2006 by both a former employee and an African American applicant. Both say they were discriminated against in work assignments and being hired for the job because of their race.

In the San Francisco settlement, the company agreed to pay $1.1 million to 3,000 of its former and current employees. In addition to the settlement amount, the company agreed to begin a program that would be used by all of its restaurants. An outside company would be used to make sure African American workers received more promotions and that more African American workers would be hired.

The final hearing will be in San Francisco on August 7, 2008.

However, McCormick and Schmick's have not admitted that they had done anything wrong in either one of the cases.

By: Ginger Gillenwater