A lawsuit filed by a former Kansas University employee who alleged age discrimination was dismissed earlier this month in Douglas County District Court.
Cynthia G. Cook filed lawsuits in both federal and district court in 2011. The lawsuits claimed that Cook, who was born in 1957 and hired in 1980 as a secretary, was laid off in 2009 and passed over for another KU job that year because of her age. When she left the university, she was an information specialist in the customer service center.
The lawsuits argued that Cook was more qualified but passed over for another position in favor of one person who was 42 and two who were 29.
The federal lawsuit was dismissed in October. In court documents, KU officials contended Cook and several other people were laid off because of budgetary issues.
Cook's lawyer declined comment, but in a written statement, Jill Jess, KU spokeswoman, said, "We are pleased the case was dismissed."
Comments
wowzersdude 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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JJE007 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I was born in '56 and think I've earned the right to sue LIFE! All life must pay!
I'm only asking for 1/1,000,000,000,000th of a cent from each living thing. It's not much to ask.
PAY UP!~)
jonnyboy 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Age discrimination in hiring is rampant and accepted. It would be interesting to have the Journal World print the ages of all the new employees hired at KU in the last 4-5 years.
happyrearviewmirror 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Age is not supposed to be considered in the hiring process. We have the right not to disclose our ages. I never give my age, and I doubt it's ever been a big factor in OBTAINING employment. Places like KU may make it an issue after the fact. Age is only a number, and it's also private information often protected by law. Lawrence has a very "young" culture, and the virtues of maturity and wisdom often remain uncelebrated if not completely rejected. Age diversity is not valued highly enough.
Pywacket 2 months, 3 weeks ago
You may be surprised, jonnyboy, but I am the same age as Ms Cook and was HIRED by KU in 2012. The issue here, however, is not discrimination in hiring, but in retention.
I agree that age discrimination is a serious problem, but I think it's more prevalent in private industry. I've seen plenty of other over-40 or over-50 hirees and also know of many older (sometimes MUCH older) employees who have no intention of retiring--and who are not being pushed out for younger workers.
All that aside, this is one particular case, not the poster case for ageism. I would hope that the case was examined on its merits. Whether or not KU has any history of age discrimination, it is quite possible that this person was let go for other reasons--maybe her work did not measure up. Maybe she had a lousy attitude.
One problem with this kind of lawsuit is that plaintiffs can say whatever they want for the press, and make themselves out to be God's unappreciated gift to employers, but the employer is legally bound to refrain from comment. If she were the lousiest employee on the planet, they could not publicly defend the firing by saying so. Thus, we never know their side of the story.
lawrenceloser 2 months, 3 weeks ago
The sad thing is that age discrimination is hard to prove. I'm 55 and been out of work since a layoff in 2008.
happyrearviewmirror 2 months, 3 weeks ago
KU claimed I was fired for budgetary reasons too, but when they need to downsize they cruelly choose out workers to be let go for discriminatory reasons. No matter that on paper ( and likely in reality)my qualifications were much better. People in Lawrence can't see beyond prejudice--too much ignorant judgment based on superficial factors, all that sentimentalizing of perceived weakness and projected helplessness. I rarely met anyone at all there who treated me like a human being, only street harassers 24/7. "Frig a bigot" to this day remains my favorite exclamation of frustration.
Moving anti-bullying video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/shane-koyczan-to-this-day-anti-bullying-poem_n_2759849.html?ir=Books
First do no harm! Stop terrorizing random pedestrians for discriminatory reasons! You are not God's gift-- only a country bumpkin who hasn't learned critical thinking skills. Your idea of "help" is my idea of insult. John Kerry says Americans have the right to be left alone by stupes! by happyrearviewmirror
First do no harm! Stop terrorizing random pedestrians for discriminatory reasons! You are not God's gift-- only a country bumpkin who hasn't learned critical thinking skills. Your idea of "help" is my idea of insult. John Kerry says Americans have the right to be left alone by stupes! by happyrearviewmirror
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