EEOC sues over hiring practice of student-athlete movers due to claims of age discrimination

A California moving company known for promoting its youthful, chiseled furniture movers is now in hot water with the federal government.

Meathead Movers recently was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for "refusing to hire people based on age," according to a release from the agency.

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EEOC is accusing the largest independent moving company in California of failing to "recruit and hire applicants over 40 into moving, packing, and customer service positions."

Since Democrats gained control of EEOC in August, the lawsuit could be an important case on how the Biden administration navigates age discrimination cases.

As the civilian labor force has been increasingly aging, according to the Labor Department, the focus on age discrimination has been looming large. The department estimated that over the next decade, the number of people aged 65 and older in the workforce will grow by a third.

The furniture moving company has been famous for its social media promotions of "student-athletes" seen pumping iron before grabbing furniture and its competitions in the Meathead Olympics, showing beefy young men quickly assembling boxes. The company was also known for its wrestling tournament Meathead Mover Invitational.

“We are 100% open to hiring anyone at any age if they can do the job,” company owner Aaron Steed reportedly said. “People love working at Meathead, or they are turned off by how hard it is. You have to move furniture and run to get more.”

The EEOC complaint insisted the company has "intentionally" excluded older workers regardless of their abilities.

Christine Park-Gonzalez, EEOC's Los Angeles district director, said in a statement, “The incorrect and unfair assumptions that someone cannot perform a job because of their age — or that clients would prefer younger workers — are the impetus behind the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The EEOC will continue to ensure an even playing field for applicants and employees in the workplace.”

EEOC claimed the company frequently encourages employees to recruit from gyms and colleges.

The agency challenges Meathead Movers's job ads, marketing materials, and job application questions.

EEOC and Meathead Movers have been in negotiations about a settlement, which initially began with an EEOC request of around $5 million, and the company has offered $750,000.

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The company owner remains baffled by the targeting of his company.

“We had no idea we were doing anything wrong by being a moving company that hires a lot of student-athletes," Steed said. "We want to change and evolve, but we can’t agree to go out of business doing it."