Setting a High Bar

A bartender with thirty years experience alleged that she was fired due to her age and treated as if she were disabled when the bar’s management terminated her employment after she was injured on the job. Evidence indicated that the injury was used as an opportunity to terminate complainant’s employment in order to establish a “younger vibe” that might attract more customers. Respondent replaced complainant with someone younger and less experienced. The parties reached a conciliation agreement in which complainant received $70,000 for her economic losses and respondent’s employees received training to prevent future discrimination in its workplace.