Oh boy..

https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/bowlero-thomas-shannon-discrimination-18094152.php

Bowlero the target of $60M federal discrimination investigation
The proposed settlement would be among the largest of its type.

Warren Brown
mySanAntonio.com
May 11, 2023

Bowlero, the corporate bowling juggernaut with locations in San Antonio and throughout Texas, is under investigation for discrimination against as many as 73 former employees. The company is facing a proposal for a $60 million settlement from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), according to a report from CNBC.

Stemming from a probe that began in 2016 for claims between 2016 and 2019, CEO Thomas Shannon is accused of being involved in "obvious beauty contests" with applicants for jobs during video calls in the interview process, an affidavit obtained by CNBC states.

Bowlero operates hundreds of bowling alleys throughout the United States, including three in San Antonio. Between 2013 and 2015, 287 managers were fired as the company allegedly sought to bring in younger staff. At the time, the company had 351 bowling centers, according to the EEOC data.

An affidavit from a former manager claims there was pressure to replace tenured employees who were "too old," including a high-performing employee that suffered disfiguration from a medical condition, CNBC reports.

Additionally, some claims include jokes at the expense of women, comments that were "racially motivated," and negative comments about LGBTQ+ people. At least one employee also said there was a fear of declaring a pregnancy, which was considered, "... the end of your career at the company if you work for Shannon."

While a $60 million judgement is less than the company's gross profit in a single quarter, the proposed settlement is notable for being almost as large as the annual monetary benefits won by the EEOC in any given year, not including those won through litigation. In the 2021 fiscal year, the EEOC had $83.8 million in monetary benefits for hundreds of people who filed claims, and the benefits of the preceding three years were between $75.7 million and $77 million.

Negotiations over the settlement failed in January, according to CNBC. The EEOC is poised to file a lawsuit, which could result in significantly higher damages. Of the 73 claims reported to the EEOC, 55 of them have been found to have reasonable cause in the probe of pattern of practice, and the other 18 remain under investigation.

Bowlero is a public traded company and required to file quarterly SEC reports. According to the most recent filing on February 8, the company intends to contest the claims, but also notes "the amount of liability with respect to claims or proceedings currently pending against us is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows."

Perhaps Shannon should have been working on fixing the toxic culture he's been allegedly brewing in the company instead of worrying about money and profits, especially if "nobody cares about bowling".

BL.

Bowlero doesn't care ONE BIT about bowling as a sport or even as rock 'n bowl "entertainment". All they care about is the land these centers are sitting on. Over the next couple decades (or less) they'll slowly be selling off these parcels for commercial and/or residential needs. It's all about $$$$ and they know exactly what they're doing.

Keep my stocks going up the rest will work itself out. Cost of business