The Tempe Elementary School District has agreed to pay $148,092 and provide other relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
According to an EEOC news release, the district had used an early retirement incentive plan and a normal retirement plan that granted greater economic benefits to younger employees based solely on their age. This violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the EEOC said.
Tempe Elementary recently revised its retirement plans to comply with the age discrimination law. And, the district agreed to pay employees who retired after April 3, 2008 the difference between what they were paid for their leave payouts and what they should have been paid, according to the news release.
In addition to monetary payments to 49 class members, the consent degree requires anti-discrimination training for all district employees and review of all policies and practices to ensure the district is free from age discrimination.
