AT&T has been accused in an age discrimination suit of targeting older workers for dismissal allegedly as part of an AT&T program to increase its employees’ technology skills, a program that plaintiffs said was infused with age-based stereotyping. The telecommunications company has conducted large-scale layoffs with the intent and effect of removing older employees and replacing them with younger workers, according to the suit, filed June 29 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. In addition, the company has wrongly told older workers that they cannot bring a complaint under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act if they accept a severance payment, the suit claims.
AT&T in a statement promised a “vigorous” defense to the claims and said it does not tolerate discrimination, including age discrimination.
