Key facts
- A lawsuit seeks to strike down New York state's lower minimum wage for tipped workers.
- The lawsuit claims the policy fuels sexual and racial harassment.
- Chili's operator Brinker International is named as a defendant.
- Plaintiffs allege a customer rating system for workers is racially biased.
- Former employees claim they faced sexual advances and inappropriate comments.
Three former Chili's employees filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday, seeking to strike down New York state's lower minimum wage for tipped workers. The proposed class action claims the policy, which is common across the US, allows operator Brinker International to force employees to rely on tips and exposes them to unlawful discrimination, including sexual and racial harassment. Brinker International did not respond to a request for comment.