Raytheon discriminates against older job applicants, AARP alleges
CBSN
Raytheon has for years systematically discriminated against older workers by phrasing job listings in a way that effectively rules out people over 40 as candidates or discourages them from applying for open positions at the defense contractor, a new proposed class-action lawsuit alleges.
In a suit filed on Tuesday, the AARP Foundation alleges that Raytheon has violated federal and state laws that protect against age discrimination in hiring, including by aiming job postings only at recent college graduates or applicants with less than 24 months of relevant work experience. Age discrimination in hiring is pervasive across the U.S, AARP said, adding that the complaint is meant to underline that such practices are unlawful.
"Raytheon's recent college graduate hiring requirement intentionally and effectively excludes nearly all older workers from qualifying for, competing for and obtaining many jobs at Raytheon," the AARP Foundation alleges in the suit, which the advocacy group filed in Massachusetts district court. "And Raytheon routinely publishes job postings for numerous jobs where the only basic qualification is being a recent college graduate and where Raytheon unlawfully indicates a preference for younger workers and discrimination against older workers and deters older workers from applying."
