Keer America Corporation to Pay $32,000  To Settle Age Discrimination Lawsuit

Textile Manufacturer Discriminated Against Experienced Sales Leader By Firing Him After Learning His Age, Federal Agency Charged

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Indian Land, S.C., textile manufacturer Keer America Corporation has agreed to pay $32,000 and furnish other equitable relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's suit, Keer America offered Scott Gamble, a then 47 year-old sales leader, a job on April 18, 2015.  During the pre-screening hiring process, Keer America learned Gamble's age and ordered the human resources generalist to rescind Gamble's job offer. The human resources generalist refused to rescind the job offer, and Gamble began working for Keer America on April 27.  The company then fired Gamble on May 8. 

Such alleged conduct violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) Act which protects individuals age 40 and older from discriminatory employment decisions based on their age.

The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court in South Carolina (EEOC v. Keer America Corporation, 0:17-CV-02360), after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. 

In addition to providing monetary relief for Gamble, the company entered into a two-year consent decree requiring it to revise its written anti-discrimination policy and provide training to managers and human resources employees. The company will also post a notice of employee rights under the ADEA and report future complaints of age discrimination to the EEOC.

"Employers who make age-based employment decisions are at risk of violating the ADEA when those decisions impact persons over the age of 40," said Regional Attorney Lynette Barnes for the EEOC's Charlotte District Office. "The EEOC is committed to combatting this practice and enforcing the ADEA against employers who discriminate against older workers." 

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employ­ment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.