Last fall, we reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged an Ohio theme park and staff management company with age discrimination. The EEOC alleged Cedar Fair, L.P., doing business as Cedar Point, and Magnum Management Corporation violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) by denying seasonal workers over the age of 40 the chance to live in subsidized housing. Many out-of-town workers could not return to their seasonal position at Cedar Point because of the high cost of housing. The former employees who complained will receive $50,000 in settlement.
Additional penalties
The 5-year consent decree that settled the lawsuit includes non-monetary provisions that should prevent age discrimination in the future. Cedar Fair and Megnum agreed to revise the housing policy so it does not discriminate against older employees. The companies are also required to implement new policies under the ADEA and provide training to management personnel responsible for hiring and those responsible for housing benefits.
Although the press release didn’t specify, most consent decrees under the EEOC include a policy where the business must report any future age discrimination complaints to the EEOC for the duration of the consent decree.
EEOC Cleveland Field Office Director Dilip Gokhale said, “Older workers comprise a vital component of the seasonal workforce at theme parks and other entertainment venues. Employers must take care to comply with the ADEA in all aspects of employment.”
Employers who hire seasonal workers need to be aware of federal and state laws that pertain to discrimination to avoid it. The EEOC works hard to make sure that workers over 40 have the same opportunities as younger workers.
You can find more resources about age discrimination and other types of discrimination prohibited by federal law on the EEOC’s website. Employees who believe they have been discriminated against can also make a complaint with the EEOC.
Dawn Brotherton is a Sr. Staff Writer at The American Genius with an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is an experienced business writer with over 10 years of experience in SEO and content creation. Since 2017, she has earned $60K+ in grant writing for a local community center, which assists disadvantaged adults in the area.
