From today's Tom Taylor column...
Fired 53-year-old Chicago sales rep files an age discrimination suit against SBS. Daniel S. Turpin claims the new 30-something sales manager at regional Mexican WLEY (107.9) “began to make improper, demeaning and discriminatory age-related comments, including…about him being ‘over 50.’” Also his need for hip-replacement surgery. A year ago, Turpin says he complained to the H.R. director at the local Spanish Broadcasting System cluster, “but to no avail.” Then, he says, things got worse - his sales manager excluded him from some meetings, insisted that he introduce him to his longtime client contacts, and finally fired him with a claim of billing irregularities and a charge that he’d been “overpaid” commissions. Turpin obtained a “right to sue” letter from the EEOC in February, and filed a suit in federal court earlier this month. He says he was the “the top producer” in the sales department, but also the second-oldest AE. Turpin’s asking for back pay, reimbursement for lost 401(k) and other benefits, plus damages.
I know Dan. We worked together twenty years ago at the Loop. I know some weird things happen in sales departments (especially when people "make too much money"), but I don't know anything about the merits of this case.
