Consciousness-raising firm accused of age discrimination

On Behalf of | Jun 17, 2019 | Employment Law

The firm began as WeWork nine years ago, providing shared work spaces to tech start-ups and others looking for ways to collaborate and save money on offices. After growing into other areas of business, WeWork recently changed its name to the We Company. “We are one,” the company says on its website, proclaiming that its mission is to “elevate the world’s consciousness.”

A former vice president begs to differ. He claims in a recently filed lawsuit that the firm fired him in retaliation for complaining about age discrimination.

Though the $47 billion We Company has expanded rapidly in its relatively brief existence, it does not yet have a presence in Milwaukee.

The 62-year-old said he was hired as vice president of construction in April of last year. He says in his lawsuit that soon after he began working, the company hired a man 20 years younger and assigned him the same job title. The 62-year-old said that several months after the new hire, he was stripped of his responsibilities.

He then contacted HR to request a meeting to discuss possible age discrimination, but the request was ignored. He was fired in April of this year and told that his role had been eliminated.

The former VP said that when he was hired, he was promised that his position would be long-term; a promise, he said, that figured prominently in his decision to relocate for the job.

He also noted in his suit that he was just weeks away from receiving stock options when he was terminated.

If you have been fired from a Milwaukee job because of your age, or been denied raises or promotions or other opportunities because you are older than co-workers, contact an employment law attorney with Alan C. Olson and Associates to discuss your legal options.

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