Freudenberg-NOK settles in age-discrimination case

ERJ staff report (DS)

Boston, Massachusetts - Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership will pay $80,000 and furnish other relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC had alleged Freudenberg refused to hire a man because of his age for a controller position at its Bristol, New Hampshire, facility.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Timothy Poh applied for and was interviewed for the Controller position at Freudenberg's Bristol facility in the fall of 2006. After Poh followed up several times, Freudenberg called him on Jan. 3, 2007 to tell him that although he was well qualified, it was looking for someone “not quite so old with as much experience.” Freudenberg offered the position to two younger applicants and eventually hired a younger, less qualified person for the position.

The settlement provides $80,000 to Poh to make him whole for his financial losses. In addition to the monetary payments, the consent decree resolving the litigation, approved by Judge Joseph A. DiClerico, enjoins Freudenberg from discriminating on the basis of age and from violating the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act when it seeks to have employees waive or release rights under the ADEA; mandates training of management on the requirements of the ADEA; and requires the issuance of a new anti-discrimination policy and the posting of a notice regarding the settlement.

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Press release from U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission