GOOGLE SUED FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION: IS POOR ‘CULTURAL FIT’ CORPORATE CODE FOR ‘OLDER WORKER?’
Brian Reid sued Google in 2004 for age discrimination and claims that when he was fired for being a poor “cultural fit” that these words were actually the internet giants code words for ‘older worker.’ Throughout Reid’s employment with Google, his co-workers referred to Reid as an “old fuddy duddy,” “old guy.” Moreover, Google’s high management referred to Reid as “fuzzy,” “lethargic,” and once even commented that Reid’s ideas were “too old to matter.”
Google hired Reid in 2002, when Reid was 50, as the Director of Operations and Engineering and had consistent performance reviews, but Reid was demoted after two years to a position that had no budget or staff and was quickly fired four months later. Reid claims that he was fired because of his age, however, Google argues that Reid’s position was eliminated and that there were no other positions for which Reid was qualified.
Google contested the California’s appeals court 2007 decision, which held that Reid had presented sufficient evidence of age discrimination and is entitled to a trial before a jury, stating that no one in a position of authority over Reid’s employment made any discriminatory remarks to Reid. However, Reid argues that the remarks illustrated Google’s corporate atmosphere and that a jury should determine whether Reid’s termination was a discriminatory act. California’s high court is issuing a decision in 90 days as to whether the case should go before a jury.
News articles related to this case can be found here, here, and here.
