May 3rd 2024.
A heartwarming victory has been won by a 78-year-old woman who used to work at a retirement living facility. The lawsuit, which was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), was against the company that had terminated her on the basis of age and disability discrimination. The EEOC declared that Covenant Woods Senior Living, LLC, and BrightSpace Senior Living, LLC, the owners and operators of Covenant Woods in Columbus, Georgia, have agreed to pay a settlement of $78,000 to the woman who was a dedicated member of their team when she was let go after being recognized as one of Covenant Woods' employees of the year in 2022.
After a brief hospital stay, the facility decided to terminate her employment, questioning her about her future plans and whether she needed to continue working. She was even asked if she would rather spend her time traveling and being with her family instead of working. This kind of behavior from employers is unacceptable, as they have a responsibility to evaluate an employee's performance regardless of their age or any perceived disability. Marcus G. Keegan, the regional attorney for the EEOC's Atlanta District Office, stated in a written statement, "The EEOC is pleased that through this early resolution, the former receptionist will be compensated and that Covenant Woods has agreed to take steps to ensure that it meets its obligations under the ADEA and the ADA going forward."
According to CBS News, the woman who triumphed in this case is Shirley Noble. The EEOC revealed that the general manager of Covenant Woods had expressed confidence in Noble's ability to work, taking into account her recent hospitalization. Despite expressing her desire to continue working, Noble was fired the very next day and replaced by younger employees. This kind of treatment goes against the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit was filed after attempts to reach a settlement through the administrative conciliation process had failed.
In a statement to CBS News, BrightSpace Chief Financial Officer Brian Hendricks said, "We at Covenant Woods and BrightSpace Senior Living resolved this case due to the cost of litigating it. We do not admit wrongdoing or discriminatory conduct as part of this resolution. Covenant Woods and BrightSpace Senior Living remain committed to compliance with all discrimination and labor and employment laws." It is heartening to see that this case was resolved, but it is unfortunate that it had to come to this. Employers must understand and uphold their obligations towards their employees, regardless of their age or any perceived disabilities.
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