Benefits November 17, 2004

Older Employees Sue Best Buy for Age Bias

November 17, 2004 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Forty-four former information systems (IS) employees have slapped electronics retailer Best Buy Company with a federal court age discrimination lawsuit.
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A news release from the plaintiffs’ law firm said the suit alleges that Best Buy illegally fired the plaintiffs and other older IS employees based on their ages as part of what the suit alleged is a pattern or practice of discrimination against its older employees.

The plaintiffs, who range in age from 40 to 71, were terminated in two group reductions in October 2003 and June 2004, according to the news release, with about 68% of those terminated from the IS Department 40 or older. The move was part of the company’s decision to outsource its IS work to Accenture, according to the plaintiffs. In June 2004, Best Buy also fired 13 employees from its Finance Department, 12 of whom were over 40, the suit said.

The plaintiffs are asking for lost compensation and benefits, reinstatement or future pay and benefits, liquidated damages under federal law, treble damages under state law, and other items.

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