Arkansas Health System Sued for Age Discrimination

White River Health System Inc., a provider of health care services throughout North Central Arkansas, has been sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for age discrimination.

In a lawsuit filed on Feb. 7, the EEOC said the system violated federal law by removing a class of employees from their positions because of their age.

According to the EEOC’s suit, on or about Oct. 23, 2018, the company’s area director told two senior center directors, then ages 77 and 80, that the company had decided to terminate their employment effective immediately because White River Health’s insurance policy excluded anyone over the age of 72 from driving.

The EEOC further charges that White River Health removed other employees over the age of 72 from their positions for the same reason. The company made no attempt to secure alternative driver’s insurance that would cover the employees, the EEOC said.

Such alleged conduct violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern Division, Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-00049, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The suit seeks monetary relief in the form of back pay and liquidated damages, as well as an injunction against future discrimination.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits