Two former managers at White Castle restaurants in Minnesota have sued the Columbus, Ohio-based family company, claiming age discrimination and violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act,
the
St. Paul Pioneer Press
reported.
The
Pioneer Press
report said that plaintiffs Terry Fransen, 58, who began working for the company in 1973, and Allen Spreeman, 51, who joined White Castle in 1980, filed a joint lawsuit against the company in Hennepin County, Minn., on May 8. The case was moved to federal court May 27, the article said.
Fransen “reluctantly retired” in October after his salary was cut by 35%. Spreeman was demoted to an hourly crew member at a White Castle restaurant after he returned from medical leave in January, the article said, citing the men's lawsuit.
The
Pioneer Press
article said the suit alleges that the discrimination began when fourth-generation family member Lisa Ingram, now White Castle's CEO, became president in 2011 and told employees she wanted to attract younger customers to the restaurants. The lawsuit contends managers over 40 were forced to quit or retire. “Fransen and Spreeman claim that managers were told they could reapply for their jobs or, in some cases, lower-ranking positions,” the article reported. “If they did remain in management positions, they were given more duties, like overseeing multiple restaurants, the lawsuit said.”
“The company said in its answer to the lawsuit that restructuring took place and managers were told they could ‘elect to retire or compete for remaining post-restructuring positions.' The company also confirmed that district managers who remained ‘would be responsible for overseeing additional locations,'” the
Pioneer Press
article said. (Source:
St. Paul Pioneer Press
, June 7, 2015.)
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