Texas Roadhouse CEO gives up salary and bonus for the rest of the year to pay ‘front-line’ workers feeling the shutdown squeeze

The CEO of Texas Roadhouse is giving up his base salary and bonus for the remainder of the calendar year in order to pay "front-line" employees amid the coronavirus pandemic, Market Watch reported Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the restaurant chain confirmed to The Hill that W. Kent Taylor, who is also the company's co-founder, agreed to forego his pay from March 18 to Jan. 7, 2021, to aid employees who are feeling the squeeze.

The restaurant industry is among the hardest hit by shutdown measures in several states that have forced non "life-essential" businesses to close in hopes of containing the spread of COVID-19.

"Kent Taylor has always said that Texas Roadhouse is a People-company that just happens to serve great steaks. His donation of his salary and bonus to help employees is the embodiment of that saying. We are blessed to have his leadership," the spokesperson told the news outlet.

The spokesperson also reported that the amount donated from Taylor's base salary and bonus will amount to "just under $1 million."

Taylor also recently donated $5 million to a company charitable fund called Andy's Outreach, which helps support employees during times of need.

Texas Roadhouse, which operates 500 restaurants in 49 states across America, decided to temporarily halt inside dining as health experts and several state officials called for community mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus. In the meantime, the restaurant chain has continued to offer its to-go order and curbside delivery options.