Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Restaurant Co.

Restaurant Workers Protected from Immigration Questions in Discrimination Case

This case involved restaurant workers who sued Perkins Restaurant and Bakery for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. During the lawsuit, the restaurant company tried to force the workers to reveal their immigration status as part of the legal discovery process.

The federal court ruled that the restaurant could not demand information about the workers' immigration status. The judge found that when workers are suing for discrimination and retaliation (but not seeking back pay, future pay, or their jobs back), their immigration status is irrelevant and cannot be used as evidence. The court overturned an earlier decision that would have allowed this questioning.

This ruling matters because it protects workers from intimidation tactics during discrimination lawsuits. Employers sometimes try to discourage workers from pursuing valid discrimination claims by threatening to expose their immigration status. This decision makes it clear that workers can fight workplace discrimination without fear of having their immigration history used against them in court, as long as they're not seeking certain types of financial compensation. The underlying discrimination case is still ongoing.