Bradenton’s Anna Maria Oyster Bar restaurant fined for hiring discrimination, feds say
Anna Maria Oyster Bar agreed to a settlement after an investigation found that that restaurant group engaged in hiring practices that discriminated against lawful permanent residents, officials say.
According to the Department of Justice, the Bradenton-based restaurant group “routinely discriminated” against lawful permanent residents by improperly requiring them to provide specific documentation to prove their eligibility to work in the United States.
The investigation began after an employee reported that the business required her to provide a permanent resident card even though she had already provided “sufficient proof” of her employment eligibility, according to a news release.
“It is unlawful for employers to reject valid documents from lawful permanent residents and require them to present a specific document because of their citizenship status when checking their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Unnecessary and discriminatory obstacles in the onboarding process can harm those who wish to lawfully participate in our economy and deprive employers of their talents.”
The department announced Tuesday that it secured an agreement with Anna Maria Oyster Bar that resolves federal investigators’ determination that the restaurant group violated discrimination laws.
As part of the settlement, Anna Maria Oyster Bar will pay a civil penalty, revise its employment policies and undergo training on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirements, according to a news release. The restaurant group will also be subject to monitoring by the Justice Department to ensure compliance.
The Department of Justice said its investigation found a broad pattern of discriminatory hiring practices at Anna Maria Oyster Bar.
Federal investigators say the restaurant group regularly requested documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security, typically Permanent Resident Cards, from lawful permanent residents to provide their citizenship status. This practice, which the department says lasted from March 1 to September 1, violated the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the worker.
Federal law allows individuals with legal permission to work in the United States, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and those with asylum or refugee status, to use a variety of documents to prove their employment eligibility.
The Immigration and National Act anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requiring specific or unnecessary documents based on an employee’s citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, nor can they reject valid documents that appear genuine.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar is a Bradenton-based restaurant group that’s been around for nearly 30 years. It began in 1995 when John Horne, the owner and chief executive officer, took over Fast Eddie’s in Bradenton Beach, which became the first Anna Maria Oyster Bar, known as The Pier at 200 Bridge St.
The restaurant has since expanded to include five additional locations.
