Age-based taunts at worker cost company $75K
As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, the number of older employees getting bullied at work seems to be on the rise. Here’s an example of how this problem directly impacts employers.
The following is some background on a case where the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission went after a Texas-business because of the treatment of one of its older employees.
Robert Coffman was hired as a heating and air-conditioning tech for the city of North Richland Hills, TX, at age 56.
During his time there, Coffman claims his supervisors constantly taunted him about his age, saying he was too old to do his job and made too much money.
When he complained, management allegedly did nothing – and eventually Coffman felt he was forced out at the age of 62.
After leaving, the EEOC filed an age-based harassment lawsuit on against the city on behalf of Coffman – a lawsuit that North Richland Hills eventually was forced to settle for $75,000.
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