Colorado casino fined $250K for screening out “older, less attractive” employees

Adrian D. Garcia

Jul. 07, 2016, 4:17 p.m.

A prominent Colorado casino was fined $250,000 Tuesday after using shady, sexist hiring practices to discriminate against older female workers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the fine Wednesday after the federal agency investigated and ultimately sued Reserve Casino Hotel in Central City.

The commission determined the new owners of the Reserve Casino Hotel, RCH Colorado, used photos to screen out older, less attractive employees after buying the location in 2011.

RCH Colorado violated federal law by choosing to hire younger candidates over older candidates and male candidates over female candidates with equal or greater qualifications, the federal announcement said.

“Out of the 14 applicants for the slot attendant position, only the three oldest female applicants were not hired,” the announcement said. “RCH Colorado also refused to hire the oldest cocktail server, who was 63 years old.”

In addition to the fine, Reserve Casino Hotel is also required provide discrimination training for employees and regular reporting to the EEOC for at least 3½-years, the Denver Post reports.

Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at agarcia@denverite.com or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.

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