EEOC Files Second Discrimination Lawsuit Against Wal-Mart In As Many Weeks

For the second time in as many weeks, Wal-Mart has been accused of violating federal law by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In the first lawsuit filed earlier this month in Illinois, the EEOC accused Wal-Mart of violating employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This time around, the suit involves not disability but age discrimination. The ADEA - or Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 - prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older in the United States. After an investigation, the EEOC determined Yvonne Loskot was fired from the retailer’s De Soto, Missouri, store because she was too old and made too much money.

According to the EEOC complaint filed in federal court in Missouri’s eastern district, Loskot was 67 when she was fired. According to a story from the St. Louis Business Journal, Wal-Mart has claimed Loskot was let go for violating an unspecified company policy.

Loskot, who worked for Wal-Mart for a decade, earned $18 an hour as a certified optician, making her the highest-paid employee in the De Soto store’s optical department.

Agency accuses Wal-Mart of age discrimination [CNN Money]

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Wal-Mart is accused of violating federal law in the firing of a 67-year-old employee from a store in Missouri.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in St. Louis alleged age discrimination in a lawsuit against the nation’s largest retailer Monday in federal court.

The EEOC says Yvonne Loskot was fired from the retailer’s De Soto store on Oct. 5, 2005 because she was too old and made too much money.

Regional EEOC attorney Barbara Seely said attempts to resolve the matter out of court were unsuccessful.

Loskot, who had worked for Wal-Mart for 10 years, earned $18 an hour as a certified optician. The suit seeks reinstatement, back pay and damages.

Daphne Moore, director of Wal-Mart corporate communications, said in a statement that she could not discuss the specifics of a personnel decision, but “this individual was terminated for violation of company policy.” She said Wal-Mart employs more than 350,000 people over the age of 50. She said Arkansas-based Wal-Mart will review the complaint and respond appropriately.

Posted by Corey Himrod on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version