California moving company Meathead Movers is sued for promoting its young, buff staff as Biden’s age-discrimination commissioners crack down on employers amid America’s ageing workforce

A California moving company that uses student athletes as movers is being sued for violating age discrimination laws.

Meathead Movers, a company that prides itself on employing young, well-groomed workers, is being pursued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The Fresno-based company allegedly failed to recruit and hire employees over the age of 40 for positions within the company.

Labor attorneys and trade groups have said the case will shed light on how the agency plans to tackle anti-discrimination laws after President Biden appointed commissioners to tackle the problem.

Many of the EEOC's allegations say Meathead Movers focus on marketing and recruiting, which could discourage older workers from applying.

The company that prides itself on employing young, clean-cut workers who have to jog from truck to home when not handling goods

The Fresno-based company allegedly failed to recruit and hire more than 40 candidates for positions within the company

Images from their website and social media show that the movers for the company are all relatively young people who are physically fit.

Employees also participate in the Meathead Olympics, where they compete against each other by assembling boxes and jumping over boxes.

Workers are often depicted with biceps, and they are seen running from a truck to a house without carrying any furniture.

According to the EEOC, current employees are asked to scour local gyms, colleges and places they frequent to pick up new hires.

The agency had started an investigation into the company in 2017 on its own initiative, and not as a result of a complaint.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the agency and Meathead Movers had attempted to negotiate a settlement in their case.

The outlet reported that the EEOC had wanted about $15 million from the company before lowering it to $5 million. Meathead Movers offered to settle for $750,000.

Speaking to the WSJ, business owner Aaron Steed said: 'We are 100% open to hiring anyone, at any age, if they can do the job.

'People either love working at Meathead or hate how difficult it is. You have to move furniture and run to get more.”

Company employees also participate in the Meathead Olympics, where they compete against each other by assembling boxes and jumping over boxes.

Current employees are asked to scour local gyms, colleges and places they frequent to pick up new hires

Steed added, “We had no idea we were doing anything wrong by being a moving company that hires a lot of student athletes.

“We want to change and evolve, but we can't agree that doing so will put us out of business.”

Collin Flynn, founder of Iowa-based UniMovers, told the WSJ that students make great employees with schedules that suit the industry.

He also added that because the job is physically demanding, having physically fit young people works best.

He said: 'They know they will get young people with strong backs, and they will act quickly. We charge by the hour.'

Meanwhile, Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, said age-related lawsuits could make companies less likely to hire seniors because they pose a liability risk.

Business owner Aaron Steed, seen here, disputed the agency's claims that they would hire anyone of any age

He told the newspaper: 'It is the most counterproductive of all the major areas of discrimination law. It makes them less employable later in their careers because they are known as process hazards.”

Anna Park, regional attorney for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, said, “Excluding older workers based on their age for marketing purposes is unlawful.

“Employers should remember that setting criteria and recruiting based on an individual's age violates federal law.”

Los Angeles District Director Christine Park-Gonzalez noted, “The incorrect and unfair assumptions that a person cannot perform a job because of their age, or that customers prefer younger workers, are the driving force behind the Age Discrimination in Employment Act .

“The EEOC will continue to ensure a level playing field for applicants and employees in the workplace.”

The Biden administration's focus on age discrimination comes as the U.S. workforce ages, with nearly a quarter of workers age 55 or older.

The Ministry of Labor estimates that the number of people aged 65 and over in the workforce will grow by a third over the next decade.