3M to pay ex-workers $3M for age bias

8/23/2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Technology giant 3M has agreed to pay a total of $3 million to former employees who accused the company of age discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Monday.

The EEOC sued 3M in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on behalf of former employees who said the company laid off hundreds of workers over the age of 45 from July 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2006. The lawsuit alleged 3M terminated many highly paid older employees and directed leadership training to younger workers.

A consent decree, which needs judicial approval, said 3M will pay $3 million to about 290 former employees.