Perdue Farms Settles EEOC Age Discrimination Suit

LEWISTON, N.C.  – Perdue Farms, Inc. will pay $25,500 to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit claims that Perdue Farms violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) by refusing to hire a woman for a position because of her age.

According to the lawsuit  (EEOC v. Perdue Farms, Inc., Civil Action  No. 2:08-CV-38), Audrey  Sheftall applied for a position in the deboning department at Perdue  Farm’s Lewiston, N.C., facility when she was 66 years old. Although Sheftall was qualified for the position, Perdue Farms refused to hire her. According to the EEOC, Perdue Farms subsequently hired approximately 74 substantially younger individuals within the month after Sheftall applied, including Sheftall’s granddaughter, who had applied on the same day as Sheftall.

In addition to paying monetary relief to Sheftall, the settlement requires Perdue Farms to take other actions, including providing annual training on age discrimination and unlawful retaliation to all of its managers and supervisors. In addition, Perdue Farms must post at its Lewiston facility a notice concerning employees’ rights under federal anti-discrimination laws and provide periodic reports to the EEOC on its hiring practices.