Federal Express, (commonly known as Fedex), faces yet another discrimination lawsuit. This time, the plaintiffs in a class action case claim age discrimination. The employees say Fedex tries to push out couriers over 40 years old, and makes life even harder for those with injuries or illness. They say FedEx takes away good routes, sets unrealistic performance goals, and writes up older employees for trivial issues.
Age discrimination is just the latest Fedex legal trouble.
It seems that Federal Express has a hard time learning lessons. No less than three other cases of discrimination have cost Fedex big dollars in the last two years:
• In February 2004, Fedex lost a highly-publicized case for discriminating against Marion Shaub because she is a woman. She won $3.2 million dollars.
• In December 2004, a jury gave Ted Maines $1.57 million dollars. He lost his job for saying Fedex wasn't giving minority workers the same opportunities to advance.
• In October of 2005 year -- Fedex settled with 20 workers who claimed racial bias in promotions and assignments. This time it only paid $500,000.00.
Is the settlement a sign that Federal Express is trying to change its ways? Or has Fedex simply realized no jury in America will stand for blatant discrimination? Either way, it's been a $6 million dollar lesson so far (not to mention the harm done to their reputation); time will tell how much more it will cost.