44 former workers in the United States launch class-action lawsuit against Minnesota-based retailer
Electronics retailer Best Buy has been hit by a class-action lawsuit from 44 former workers in the United States who claim they were fired because of their age.
The suit, filed in Minnesota, alleges that Best Buy Company, Inc., unlawfully terminated the employment of the plaintiffs and other older information systems employees based on their ages, in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
The plaintiffs range in age from 40 to 71. Their average age at the time of their termination was 51. The 44 plaintiffs were terminated in two group reductions, the first in October 2003 and the second in June 2004, according to Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, the law firm representing the workers.
“About 68 per cent of those terminated from the IS department were age 40 or older, even though the IS employees tended to be younger,” the firm said in a press release. “The terminations were a part of Best Buy’s announced strategy to outsource its IS work to Accenture.”
Stephen Snyder, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said many of the workers had received stellar performance reviews and bonuses at their most recent reviews.
“Workers in information technology can be particularly vulnerable to age bias,” said Snyder. “There seems to be a misperception that only younger workers are able to keep up with new technologies.”
The lawsuit seeks lost compensation and benefits, reinstatement of future pay and benefits and other relief.
The lawsuit also seeks a declaration that releases of claims signed by other Best Buy employees should be declared invalid due to the company’s failure to comply with statutory requirements, the firm said.
Best Buy is headquartered in Richfield, Minn. It operates more than 750 stores across the U.S. and Canada under the Best Buy, Future Shop, Geek Squad and Magnolia Audio Video names.
The suit, filed in Minnesota, alleges that Best Buy Company, Inc., unlawfully terminated the employment of the plaintiffs and other older information systems employees based on their ages, in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
The plaintiffs range in age from 40 to 71. Their average age at the time of their termination was 51. The 44 plaintiffs were terminated in two group reductions, the first in October 2003 and the second in June 2004, according to Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, the law firm representing the workers.
“About 68 per cent of those terminated from the IS department were age 40 or older, even though the IS employees tended to be younger,” the firm said in a press release. “The terminations were a part of Best Buy’s announced strategy to outsource its IS work to Accenture.”
Stephen Snyder, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said many of the workers had received stellar performance reviews and bonuses at their most recent reviews.
“Workers in information technology can be particularly vulnerable to age bias,” said Snyder. “There seems to be a misperception that only younger workers are able to keep up with new technologies.”
The lawsuit seeks lost compensation and benefits, reinstatement of future pay and benefits and other relief.
The lawsuit also seeks a declaration that releases of claims signed by other Best Buy employees should be declared invalid due to the company’s failure to comply with statutory requirements, the firm said.
Best Buy is headquartered in Richfield, Minn. It operates more than 750 stores across the U.S. and Canada under the Best Buy, Future Shop, Geek Squad and Magnolia Audio Video names.
