Whenever someone applies for a job, there is a reasonable expectation that they will either meet the criteria or have a chance to be hired — or not meet the necessary criteria and be passed up for the position in favor of a more qualified candidate. However, there are times when someone may be passed up for an employment position based on being regarded as too old, even if they are more than physically capable of doing the job. Anyone in Colorado who believes their age may have played a role in being passed up for a job or promotion may want to follow a recent case where a county is being sued for age discrimination.
The case making news pertains to a 45-year-old man who interviewed for a police position in one county in another state. He passed the required written exam and was also said to have met the minimum qualifications. The candidate also had military experience and a degree.
A comment made during the interview suggested that those interviewing him took issue with his age and questioned his ability to withstand the training rigors. He was given the job but found employment as a police officer elsewhere. An investigation into allegations of age discrimination also revealed that less qualified candidates were employed by the department during this time.
Age discrimination can be difficult to prove in Colorado and elsewhere. However, if successful, an age discrimination suit can lead to retaining employment or getting back pay for a job that was either denied or taken away from someone. In this case, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking benefits, back pay and damages for the 45-year-old. It also seeks a court order to prevent the police department in question from engaging in other discriminatory actions in the future.
Source: khon2.com, Age discrimination lawsuit filed against-maui-police-dept, No author, Dec. 18, 2013