Legal Complaint Alleges Discriminatory Practices at Cracker Barrel

A conservative legal advocacy group aligned with pro-Trump causes has lodged complaints against Cracker Barrel, alleging that the restaurant chain is engaging in unlawful employment discrimination rooted in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The disputes cite internal company documents and public descriptions of Cracker Barrel’s employee resource groups (ERGs), claiming these initiatives benefit employees based on their race or gender, such as the “Be Bold” Black Leadership group and the HOLA Hispanic and Latino group. AFL asserts that participation in these groups provides exclusive advantages, fostering a form of discrimination.

Additionally, AFL criticizes Cracker Barrel’s public focus on diversifying leadership, especially through programs like DELTA, which aims to promote “diverse managers,” and through criteria used in board candidate selection that considers race, gender, and ethnicity. AFL contends these policies effectively prioritize certain demographic attributes over merit, violating anti-discrimination laws.

The group argues that these practices discriminate against heterosexual, white, and male employees, claiming they favor minority groups and women. AFL references legal rulings, including Supreme Court decisions, emphasizing that policies seeking racial balancing or favoring one group violate federal civil rights law.

The complaints call for investigations by the Tennessee attorney general and the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). AFL urges the agencies to scrutinize internal communications, assess potential circumvention of legal standards, and enforce laws against discriminatory employment practices.

Cracker Barrel has not publicly responded to these allegations as of now.