EEOC Says Firm Revoked Job Offers for 70-Year-Olds

Bobby Dodd Institute, Inc. of Atlanta, an organization that provides employment opportunities to disabled individuals, will pay $40,000 and furnish other relief to settle the age discrimination suit.

According to the EEOC, two women, each older than age 70, applied for a shared mail clerk position in Atlanta and were extended job offers by the company. However, after their respective ages were revealed to the company’s CEO, the job offers were revoked one day before their scheduled start date.

In addition, the agency charged that shortly after preventing the older applicants from starting work, the company hired two younger individuals to fill the positions.

The consent decree settling the suit, in addition to the monetary relief, includes provisions for equal employment opportunity training, reporting and posting of anti-discrimination notices. Bobby Dodd Institute denied any liability or wrongdoing.

“These rejected applicants were prepared to provide a positive contribution to the employer’s operation, but never got the opportunity,” says Robert Dawkins, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Atlanta District Office.

A recent survey revealed nearly three out of four (72%) pre-retirees older than 50 say their ideal retirement will include work (see “Changing View of Retirement Calls for Changed Planning”).