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Benefits July 26, 2004
Older Worker Sues Google for Age Discrimination
July 26, 2004 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A former employee
has filed suit against Internet search engine Google Inc.
contending the company discriminates against older
workers.
Reported by Eric Hazard
Brian Reid, 54, filed suit last week in Santa Clara Superior court alleging he was fired as the company’s director of operations in February because he did not fit in a culture of “youth and energy.” Reid said he was terminated without being given a reason, and was later told he was incompatible with Google’s youthful atmosphere, according to an Associated Press report.
After he left, Reid said he learned he was replaced by a 30-something year-old.
In the suit, Reid said he never received a negative job review before his firing. During his tenure at Google , Reid said he gathered evidence that Google purposely avoids hiring older workers.
Additionally, Reid said the Mountain View, California-based Google discriminated against him because he had diabetes, a condition that “substantially limits his ability to engage in major life activities,” Reid’s lawsuit said.
The suit seeks to recover lost compensation and punitive damages. Prior to being terminated, Reid made an annual salary of $200,000 and had 119,000 Google stock options with an exercise price of $0.30 per share.
Googledenied the allegations.