Workforce Reduction & Age Discrimination

Michigan Age Discrimination Attorneys

When companies downsize because of economic difficulties, they often terminate the older employees, often due to a perception that these employees are more “expensive” or less suited to the “future” needs of the company. Employers may also try to force older workers to retire. These decisions are often based on misguided stereotypic generalizations about older workers such as they are resistant to change, unable  to learn new technology, or too tired and lacking the necessary energy for the job. The law covers these situations and others related to age discrimination.

We help individual employees and groups fight age discrimination.

At the Royal Oak, Michigan law firm of Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden, our employment lawyers have many years of experience helping people fight age discrimination. We use the knowledge gained during those years to assist individuals and groups who have experienced age discrimination in hiring, layoff, and promotion decisions. Contact our Michigan law firm to learn more about age discrimination and the laws against it.

Older Workers Benefit Protection Act

Often in workforce reductions, employers try to obtain releases from employees to prevent them form bringing lawsuits. The release frees the employer from liability for age discrimination or other claims in return for some financial consideration. The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) requires employers to give statistical information to employees affected by workforce reduction describing the ages and job titles of employees laid off and those retained before the employer can obtain a valid release. In addition, employees age 40 and over must be given 45 days in a group lay-off to consider whether to sign the release.

Consult an employment attorney before signing a release or waiver.

If you have been asked to sign a severance agreement or waiver relating to your layoff, you should consult an employment discrimination lawyer to learn about your options. Our law firm, Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden, has helped older workers fight discrimination in workforce reductions. We utilize statisticians, vocational experts, and demographers to analyze the patterns in the layoff. We have successfully litigated cases for employees downsized from Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler, Consumers Power, Detroit Edison, and JCI, among others, and can fight for you. If you believe you are experiencing age discrimination, contact our Michigan employment attorneys. We can help.