Medegen Discrimination Case Settled

Medegen has settled with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over its treatment of older employees at its Northglenn, CO plant, according to The Denver Business Journal.

The Scottsdale, Ariz., manufacturer will pay $634,595 to eight former employees to settle the EEOC’s claims.

The EEOC said the company laid off workers 40 and older and treated younger employees more favorably. The layoffs happened in early 2003.

Medegen maintains it acted fairly, but agreed a settlement to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

As part of the settlement, Medegen will provide a work environment free of age discrimination and give further training to employees and managers in Colorado about age discrimination.

Medegen agreed last month to sell its medical products division, which includes the Northglenn plant, to Medical Action Industries Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y. The deal closed last week. Medical Action is not responsible for paying the settlement.