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IKEA accused of age discrimination

On Behalf of | Mar 11, 2019 | Discrimination

IKEA is coming under attack for alleged age discrimination. In the past year, five lawsuits have been filed nationwide against the home furnishings retailer.

In the latest lawsuit, a 48-year-old Connecticut man alleges IKEA has a “corporate culture of age bias” and repeatedly violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

The plaintiff says he was repeatedly passed over for job promotions, in favor of younger candidates. The suit also alleges that the employee was later demoted and his pay was reduced by $10 an hour. IKEA took the actions despite stellar job performance, the lawsuit says.

When the man asked a supervisor why he was passed over for yet another promotion, the manager said an outsider was hired because the store wanted “new, innovative ideas.”

The legal action was filed in the form of a class action lawsuit.

In response, IKEA said in a statement that it is “committed to creating an inclusive work environment that is free of discrimination.”

Previous lawsuits against IKEA 

In February 2018, a 54-year-old IKEA employee in Pennsylvania alleged that he was not promoted, despite outstanding performance reviews.

A lawsuit filed in August 2018 alleged that IKEA’s “strategic initiatives” favored employees under age 40 for management positions.

Do you have questions?

Human resources authorities say that when managers use an age stereotype to describe an ideal candidate, it can be an indicator of bias. Examples of those buzzwords are: new, fresh, innovative, energetic.

If you have questions about age discrimination or if you believe you are a victim of age discrimination, contact a lawyer who has experience in this area of the law.