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Compliance July 8, 2016
Casino Owner Sued for Not Hiring Older Workers
Only the three oldest female applicants for a slot attendant position, out of 14 applicants, were not hired, the EEOC found.
Reported by Rebecca Moore
RCH Colorado, owner and operator of the Reserve Casino Hotel in Central City, Colorado, will pay $250,000 to settle an age and gender discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
EEOC’s lawsuit charged that RCH Colorado, formerly known as Luna Gaming Central City, bought the casino, formerly known as the Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino, in January 2011, and violated federal law by choosing to hire younger candidates over older candidates and male candidates over female candidates with equal or greater qualifications.
According to EEOC’s suit, RCH Colorado refused to hire four older women applicants in the positions of slot attendant and cocktail server. Out of the 14 applicants for a slot attendant position, only the three oldest female applicants were not hired. RCH Colorado also refused to hire the oldest cocktail server, who was 63 years old.
EEOC’s lawsuit further alleged that prior to the sale of Fortune Valley, casino managers went around and took photos of employees on the casino floor. These photos were later used by RCH Colorado to screen out older, less attractive employees. EEOC’s investigation found a significant disparity in the hiring of female applicants and/or applicants age 40 and older.
“Employers cannot hide behind any marketing or rebranding efforts to discriminate against older, seasoned workers,” says EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo O’Neil.
In addition to requiring RCH Colorado to pay monetary damages to the four women, the consent decree settling the suit requires RCH Colorado and its successors to conduct semi-annual anti-discrimination training for its employees, managers, supervisors and human resources employees. RCH Colorado will also revise and distribute its anti-discrimination policies and report to EEOC if there are any complaints of age or gender discrimination. The court approved the settlement and will retain jurisdiction for purposes of compliance for three and one-half years.
EEOC Denver Trial Attorney Laurie Jaeckel says, “A growing body of research finds that older women face discrimination that is more prevalent and acute than other subcategories of the workforce, including that of younger women and older men. This litigation shows EEOC’s commitment to ensuring the protection of older women from discriminatory hiring practices.”
Studies find that many people plan to work past retirement age. Age discrimination could be a deterrent to their plans.