Exact Sciences Corporation, a molecular diagnostics firm, will end up paying $90,000 in damages to a person to settle a federal discrimination case, for refusing to select him for a role five years ago.
At the time, the third-party recruiter had told the man that he was way too qualified for the sales position he had applied for. This rejection came after the company itself had refused to consider him for an area manager’s role citing his lack of experience. The man later learnt from the third-party recruiter that the company preferred to hire a much younger/junior person who would stay on with the company for a longer tenure.
The 49-year old went to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2018, alleging that Exact Sciences had discriminated against him and his age.
Now, five years on, following a detailed investigation, Exact Sciences has been found to have violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, by the EEOC. It has said that the company“engaged in unlawful employment practices”. Therefore, Exact Sciences Corporation will pay the ‘wronged’ man $90,000 in damages.
As per EEOC, recruiters cannot discriminate against candidates who have crossed 40 years of age at a time when they are probably in the middle of a career transition. They have to be assessed based on their talent, work experience and abilities.
The hiring managers of Exact Sciences will be put through age-discrimination training and also ensure that third-party recruiters are made aware of the policies of Exact Sciences so that such cases are averted in the future.
