Pro-Trump group claims Cracker Barrel’s DEI initiatives break the law

Complaint Filed Against Cracker Barrel

The America First Legal (AFL), a conservative pro-Trump legal group, lodged a complaint on Monday with the Tennessee Attorney General and the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC), claiming that Cracker Barrel engages in discriminatory hiring practices tied to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The complaint cites public documents and internal reports, asserting that Cracker Barrel’s DEI framework is illegal. It alleges that the company’s employment, leadership, and promotion processes favor individuals based on race and gender. Additionally, the AFL criticized Cracker Barrel for changing the label of its DEI website to “culture and attribution,” suggesting that this rebranding wouldn’t prevent the company from using “diversity” as a euphemism for race and gender preferences.

“Many Americans are fed up with major corporations treating DEI as acceptable,” remarked Will Scorinos, an AFL attorney. “It’s illegal and wrong to treat individuals differently due to their skin color or gender. The AFL has actively opposed DEI since the Biden administration began promoting its widespread adoption.”

The complaint highlights Cracker Barrel’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) as examples of potential discrimination, referencing various documents from the Public Securities and Exchange Commission and Cracker Barrel’s own website.

According to the AFL, these groups provide employment benefits targeted at specific racial or gender demographics. For instance, one BRG called “Be Bold” aims to support and advance Black leaders within the company, while another, named Hola BRG, focuses on promoting Hispanic and Latino culture through employee strategies.

Further claims against Cracker Barrel’s DEI practices include its emphasis on attracting talent with diverse backgrounds, referencing language from the company’s “Culture, Attribution, Inclusion” webpage.

A public filing with the SEC revealed that Cracker Barrel’s Nomination Committee takes into account diversity regarding candidates for board membership, including various demographic characteristics.

The company also touts its diverse employee leadership talent advancement program, which seeks to identify and promote diverse managers within the organization. They’ve implemented comprehensive training on unconscious bias to foster an inclusive workplace.

The AFL contends that these policies have effectively increased representation of women and ethnic minorities within Cracker Barrel’s workforce by at least 3% in 2022.

The complaint argues that Cracker Barrel’s policies discriminate against heterosexual, white, and male employees in favor of diverse candidates. This, according to the AFL, conflicts with Tennessee’s Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The AFL is urging both Cracker Barrel and the EEOC to investigate these allegations, review internal communications, and assess whether the company may have bypassed civil rights laws. They are calling for enforcement of state and federal regulations that would mandate the suspension of discriminatory DEI practices.