Many of our Milwaukee employment law blog readers arrive at this spot after a Google search. Unfortunately for the search-engine giant, its own name pops up in queries about age discrimination.
The company recently settled an age discrimination lawsuit for $11 million, Forbes reported. More than 200 job applicants over the age of 40 will share the settlement.
The Silicon Valley titan will do more than write a big check, however. Google has also agreed to train management and workers on ageism and form an internal group focused on age-diverse recruiting. It also agreed to fully investigate age-related complaints from employees and applicants.
The lead plaintiff stated in the suit that she was denied a job because Google has “a systematic pattern and practice of discriminating against older people.”
IBM is also facing allegations of age discrimination after terminating 20,000 workers over age 40, a group that represented more than 60 percent of its U.S. job cuts. A class-action lawsuit by former IBM workers states that the company discriminated on the basis of age when slashing payroll.
The ageism allegations don’t stop there. Telecommunications giant Verizon’s “voluntary separation program” offered to employees has been roundly criticized as a mass layoff of older employees.
It should be noted that the law is crystal clear on age discrimination. Both the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibit employment discrimination against people age 40 or older.
If you are 40 or above and have been fired or denied a promotion, raise or job because of your age, contact the Milwaukee employment law attorneys at Alan C. Olson and Associates to discuss litigation and other legal options.
