Texas Roadhouse CEO forgoes salary and bonus to pay front-line restaurant employees

Texas Roadhouse' CEO is stepping up to help pay for staff salaries during the coronavirus outbreak. PHOTOS: How Houstonians are responding to COVID-19... Texas Roadhouse' CEO is stepping up to help pay for staff salaries during the coronavirus outbreak. PHOTOS: How Houstonians are responding to COVID-19... Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close Texas Roadhouse CEO forgoes salary and bonus to pay front-line restaurant employees 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

The CEO of Texas Roadhouse is donating his salary until January of next year to pay front-line employees during the coronavirus outbreak, according to reports.

W. Kent Taylor is forgoing his salary and bonus from March 18 through Jan. 7, 2021, MarketWatch reported.

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Taylor made $1.3 million in salary and bonuses in 2018, and made $8.5 million in 2017, Louisville Business First reported in 2019.

The steakhouse chain is also suspending its dividend "to better manage its cash position and enhance financial flexibility in light of the uncertainty in the global markets resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak," FSR magazine reported.

The chain has more than 600 locations in 49 states, according to reports.