Graying tech workforce using courts to fight ageism

On Behalf of | Nov 30, 2016 | Employment Law

Milwaukee has made inroads in recent years in trying to lure high tech firms to our area. Not only do the jobs pay well, but high tech companies also tend to attract more businesses involved in software or hardware.

The high tech industry is dependent on innovation and has relied on a young workforce to help it constantly push technology forward. But the youthful workforce of the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s has gotten older and is now pushing back against ageism in the industry. The graying workforce is increasingly using courts to fight age discrimination, a recent news article states.

In the past four years, 90 lawsuits fighting age discrimination have been filed against high tech firms in Silicon Valley, a report in USA Today states. More than two dozen suits have been filed against Hewlett-Packard since 2013, while Cisco Systems faces 11. Apple is named in 9 age-related lawsuits; Google faces 8; Oracle 7; and firms such as Facebook, Intel, Twitter and Yahoo have also been named.

USA Today cites experts who attribute some of the lawsuits to mergers and acquisitions that require companies to lay off employees. Problems arise for the firms when they target older workers for layoffs or when raises or promotions are denied because of age.

A discrimination lawsuit against HP alleges that the company used a major restructuring to try to “transform itself from an ‘old’ company into a ‘younger’ operation.” The four plaintiffs claim their ages were deciding factors in layoffs. They range in age from 52 to 63.

A law firm experienced in fighting age discrimination can help you fight for your Wisconsin workplace rights. Contact Alan C. Olson & Associates, s.c. for more information.

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