COMPANY PREFERRED TO HIRE MILLENNIALS
Lilly USA, LLC – a big pharma company based out of Indiana – has agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle a nationwide class-action discrimination lawsuit instituted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Apparently, sales rep applicants were denied positions based on their age, as the company was offering “preferences” to “millennials.”
Believing that such conduct violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division (EEOC v. Lilly USA, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:22-1882-TWP-MKK), seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.
In addition to the cash settlement, the company has agreed to modify its employment and recruitment-related practices.
In a written statement, EEOC Miami District Director, Evangeline Hawthorne, noted “We commend Lilly for working collaboratively with the EEOC to resolve this lawsuit …. Lilly voluntarily ended its Early Career hiring program prior to initiation of the EEOC’s action, and the company’s willingness to implement additional training and other relief will ensure applicants of all ages are fairly considered for employment with Lilly.”
Think they nipped that in the bud?
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