Older works wins $6 Million for age discrimination after being called ‘Old Fossil’
A 58-year-old worker in the UK, Glenn Cowie, has received nearly $6 million in compensation after being fired by his younger boss, who had previously called him an “old fossil.”
Cowie, who served as a divisional president at global engineering firm Vesuvius, was dismissed in August 2019. After a four-year legal battle, the UK employment tribunal ruled that Cowie had been unfairly dismissed due to age discrimination and victimization, awarding him $5.88 million (3.1 million pounds) in compensation.
This substantial payout is one of the largest ever awarded for unfair dismissal in the UK, highlighting the issue of age discrimination in various industries, especially in the tech sector.
On LinkedIn, Cowie expressed gratitude to his barrister, Jamie Susskind, for effectively presenting his case and raising awareness about the mistreatment of older employees.
Dismissal Details
Cowie’s dismissal occurred 18 months after Vesuvius CEO Patrick Andre referred to him as an “old fossil who doesn’t know how to manage millennials” during a meeting with other executives. The tribunal found that Cowie was replaced by a younger employee following the introduction of a new policy discouraging the hiring of anyone over 45.
A year and a half before Cowie was dismissed, Andre commented, “These new millennials will never stop pushing until they have my job, and you older guys have to get used to it.” The tribunal noted that while the “old fossil” remark was discriminatory, it was too old to be part of the case, though it provided important context.
Hostile Environment
The tribunal found that Andre’s comments about Cowie’s age and his ability to manage younger employees created an intimidating and hostile environment. Soon after, Cowie received an email from his boss suggesting that new hires should not be over 45 to ensure they have enough career time left to develop.
During the hearings, Andre claimed this age preference was not a strict rule and denied the existence of an “age ceiling” at the company.
Cowie was informed of his dismissal in August 2019, despite the decision being made earlier that year. Two months later, Cowie filed a grievance with the employment tribunal, alleging age discrimination.
Cowie argued that Andre had unlawfully targeted older employees, replacing them with younger staff, and cited emails and instructions to recruitment companies as evidence of this prejudice.
Tribunal Decision
The tribunal ultimately ruled that Cowie had been unlawfully dismissed and had suffered age discrimination. Cowie spoke about the mental anguish he experienced due to the company’s actions.
Despite the ruling, Vesuvius continues to deny any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision.
Age Discrimination in the Workforce
Richard Jones, co-founder of PrimeL, a platform that helps place older Australians in employment, commented on the prevalence of age discrimination. He noted that such disrespectful behavior is often common, though usually more subtle.
Jones explained that older workers are frequently overlooked for promotions or replaced by younger staff. He pointed out that many organizations wrongly view mature workers as liabilities, believing they are not up to date with the latest trends, too rigid, or too expensive to hire.
In reality, Jones finds that experienced workers are often well aware of rapid technological changes and frequently engage in training to stay current with the latest developments.
This article was written by Denham Sadler and first published on the Information Age ACS, 11 July 2024. Read article
