COLUMBUS, OH (WOWO) Wendy’s is facing a federal lawsuit alleging discrimination against a district manager in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the complaint on December 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, claiming the company violated federal law by treating the manager unfairly because of age and disability.

According to the lawsuit, the manager, who was in his early 50s and had worked for Wendy’s and its franchise system since the early 1990s, went on approved medical leave for surgery in 2022. After being cleared by his health care provider to return to work, the complaint alleges Wendy’s refused to allow him back, required him to remain on leave, conditioned employment on the ability to work without restrictions, and ultimately terminated him.

The EEOC also claims Wendy’s favored younger workers in the years surrounding the manager’s firing. The federal agency enforces laws prohibiting workplace discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Both laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodations and prohibit discrimination based on age or disability.

Debra Lawrence, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Philadelphia office, said the commission is committed to protecting the rights of older and disabled workers. The EEOC attempted to resolve the issue through administrative conciliation before filing the lawsuit.

Wendy’s, headquartered at 1 Dave Thomas Boulevard in Dublin, Ohio, operates nearly 6,000 restaurants nationwide, including over 390 in Ohio. A company spokesperson told NBC4 that Wendy’s is committed to inclusion and respect in the workplace and will respond to the allegations through legal channels.