Judson Motors Ltd., doing business as Universal Toyota in San Antonio, has agreed to pay $140,000 to settle an age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency recently announced.
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Download NowAccording to the EEOC, Universal barred four salespeople over the age of 40 from being certified to sell Scions. Witnesses confirmed that managers told the salespeople they were too old to sell the Scion brand, which targets younger drivers. When one salesperson reported the discrimination, managers retaliated by harassing and intimidating him and downgrading his pay plan, the EEOC alleged. He reportedly resigned because of the harassment.
Car sales are a “tough and unforgiving business,” said EEOC Trial Attorney David Rivela. “Sometimes, even a few extra cars sold can mean the difference between making sales goals and earning commissions and bonuses or not having a job. Through this case, we hope to [ensure] an even playing field for the sales team, without regard to age.”
In addition to paying the victims, Universal Toyota agreed to implement an effective equal employment opportunity policy and provide appropriate training to managers.