Saturday, December 07, 2013

As boomers hit 60s, age discrimination suits climb

Workplace age discrimination claims are on the rise as members of the post-World War II baby boom enter their 60s, according to a new story by The New York Times. Last year, 22,857 people filed age-related complaints with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, compared with 16,548 in 2006.

The financial consequences can be devastating. "Once older workers lose their jobs," the NYT says, "many never regain their former standard of living. On average, those who do find work make 20 percent less than they had in their previous positions, the biggest income loss for any age group, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."

The rise in lawsuits comes as companies shed hundreds of thousands of jobs, often by laying off older workers. Since Gannett's workforce last peaked in 2005 at 52,600 employees, the company has slashed 22,000 jobs

Earlier: In Louisville, Ky., document in age-bias suit claims multi-year plan to "get rid of the old guard."

5 comments:

  1. If you are 55 or over at Gannett, you are a target. Get out while you can, and if you cant, save as much as you can.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What is the minimum retirement age for Gannett?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Agism is rampant at my site. Most of the info center employees who were laid off in that last round were in their upper 40's to 50's-a so-called protected class, according to HR!
    Younger managers who have been promoted, because the good editors quit, constantly treat veterans, who are proven performers and have embraced digital, like they just started their first job.
    If you're young and kiss the EE's butt, it IS all in reach. If you have a touch of gray or a wrinkle, get ready to clean out your desk because you are worthless to this company. See you in court!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was laid off in 2010 at age of 58. I make about 60% of what I was making at Gannett. Lifestyle has changed big time! And of course no health insurance.

    ReplyDelete

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