3M Agrees $3M Settlement in Age Discrimination Class Action

New York, NY: Some 290 former employees of 3M, who filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the company, look set to receive a $3 million settlement.

The agreement, which is a consent decree, still requires judicial approval, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said. As part of the settlement, the company has also agreed to set up a review process around their termination processes, and a training program on how to prevent age bias. Additionally, 3M will also post openings for positions previously unadvertised so that older employees have a chance to apply. An attorney for the Commission said the consent decree was the result of "productive and thoughtful negotiations with 3M."

"In addition to providing meaningful monetary relief for hundreds of former 3M employees, the settlement contains important preventive measures, including company policy changes and training designed to provide older people equal opportunities in the workplace," the Commission said.

The EEOC, which filed the suit against 3M, alleged the company unlawfully laid off hundreds of employees over the age of 45 during a series of reductions put in place between July 2003 and December 2006. Furthermore, Dow Jones Newswire reports that the lawsuit claimed 3M laid off many highly paid older employees, allegedly to save money and cut workers in salaried positions, and that older employees were denied leadership training and laid off to make way for younger leaders.

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Published on Aug-23-11