Following a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the operator of a retirement facility in Columbus, Georgia, has agreed to pay $78,000 to a receptionist to settle allegations of age and disability discrimination.
Shirley Noble, who had been working at Covenant Woods Senior Living for 14 years, was terminated from her position at the age of 78 in February of 2022. This came just one month after she had been recognized as the 2021 employee of the year, as stated in the lawsuit filed in federal court.
Upon returning to work after a brief hospitalization, Noble found a younger employee occupying her desk. The EEOC alleged that during a meeting with her manager the next day, Noble was questioned about her future plans and her ability to continue working. Despite expressing her willingness to work for a few more years, she was informed the following day that she was being let go due to a perceived decline in her abilities, with her recent hospitalization being cited as a factor in the decision.
During a recent statement, Marcus Keegan, regional attorney for the EEOC's Atlanta district office, emphasized the importance of employers evaluating an employee's performance without consideration of age or disability. This includes employees who are 40 and over, as well as those with actual or perceived disabilities.
Covenant Woods, a retirement community owned by BrightSpace Senior Living based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was involved in a discrimination lawsuit that resulted in a settlement of $78,000. BrightSpace Chief Financial Officer Brian Hendricks stated, "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."
