Age Discrimination?

I am over 40 and was part of the Aero RIF last week. Of the dozens and dozens of people I know that got laid off, none were under age 40. What have you seen?

If you, too, received the severance agreement to sign, read it closely. It says, “You acknowledge and certify that you: have been informed in writing...the job titles and ages of all individuals selected for the reduction in force and the ages of all individuals in the same job classification or organizational unit not selected for the reduction in force.”

First, Honeywell has to provide this list by law (reference OWPBA act). Second, you have 45 days to review the list before signing your severance agreement which will waive your right to any wrongdoings by the company.

Review the list for: If the % of employees before the RIF and over age 40 was 60% (as an example) and the % laid off over 40 is 80%, then there are grounds for a class action lawsuit.

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I had been fired from Honeywell after 39 years. I had been put on a PIP. The PIP was nothing but lies, and I stated so when I was given it. I had also been told that trying to sue Honeywell would be a waste of time and money on my part, because Honeywell would never capitulate or negotiate, leaving me no alternative but to sign and take the severance.

Over 40 doesn't mean anything now days. If 80% of the RIFed folks were over 60 there may be a few eyebrows raised.

To the commenter that spoke of the job title standardization...you are totally correct. Looking at the lists (more like a book of lists) they put all personnel with the same title (regardless of location) into each peer grouping. From what I can tell that is how they achieved a broader age range for all groups.

I'm 36 and I was laid off in PHX. I wouldn't hold your severance by hoping for a settlement...plus this is America...there's always loopholes out of signed documents these days

@1ieb, the also have to have the "proper" demographics in the layoff pool to not get sued.

Never ever take the first severance offered and never sigh anything quickly.

Always ask for more or better.

They will say it is standard. They will say there is nothing they can do about it.

That is not true. If you make a logical, reasonable fuss, and especially if you have an attorney, they will eventually give you more. Maybe not much, but more than the measly amount offered. If you don't, it's because you did not make a good enough case for it. This is not just this company, it goes for almost any large company. They want you to sign off and not run the risk.

Also, to the person who asked why RIF younger cheaper people - sometimes because they would have to pay out more to the older person in severance based on higher pay especially if they are doing work that is harder to replace. It might also cost more to rehire those skills.

Until you get the notice from HR/Director, have a bit of compassion. It hurts regardless of age, salary and years of service.!

More likely to submit to the BS? I think the 35 year + employees might be the reason the place is a dumpster fire. Decades of complacency. One dude at my site wears socks with his sandals. Tells me all I need to know....

I volunteered and got it. I haven't seen the numbers, but honeywell has more lawyers than engineers and I would bet my 26 week severance that they have the age number distributions covered completely to protect against any lawsuit.

Not surprising. Other companies are doing it as well - a younger workforce is cheaper and more malleable - more likely to submit to the BS and incompetence of the Empty Suits and their sycophants at the executive level.

Why fire cheap younger workers when you can fire older expensive workers?

If in the USA, you can request ages of all laid off based on the OWPBA rules

Pursuant to last year's job title standardization they might group people from other business units into your "peer group" to get a broader age range for that group. Just a guess.

I am 34 and I was the oldest one let go in my group - about 10 of us were RA'd and that's about 30% of the total group. We had a handful folks over 50, all of them were kept. I am not sure what was happening in other groups, this is just my case.

File suit under the OWPBA - a good attorney will do all they can to get a settlement bigger than your measly severance. The only language these asshats know is money. You start tinkering with their purse and they’ll pucker up good and quick.

Thread regarding Honeywell International Inc. layoffs

Age Discrimination?

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