Volkswagen Class Action Says Older Workers Booted to ‘Rebrand’

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Beleaguered car maker, Volkswagen, has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the company let older workers go as a part of an effort to remake the car company’s image.

Lead plaintiff Jonathan Manlove alleges in his Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit that the German auto company discriminated against him and other older workers who lost their management positions as the company reorganized in the wake of the emissions scandal that accused the company of using “defeat devices” to beat emissions testing.

“Since their November 2016 introduction, the company has implemented the twin policies, TRANSFORM 2025+ and Pact for the Future, world­wide. And in the process, once again, Volkswagen’s German leadership has implemented a policy that flouts American law,” alleges the Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit. “Volkswagen’s policy of purging older workers from the management ranks is impermissible age discrimination.”

The Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit argues that the company’s purported policy to create a “slimmer, leaner, and younger” company violates age discrimination laws when it demoted older workers or forced them into early retirement.

The plaintiff alleges that he was employed at Volkswagen as an assistant manager. When the car company implemented the policy in 2017, alleges the Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit, the plaintiff was over 50 and faced a permanent demotion unless he could find another opening as an assistant manager.

According to the Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit, positive performance reviews did not help Manlove in his search for another assistant manager position. He alleges that the company refused to let him apply for management level positions after they made the announcement that they were looking to make their management team younger.

Further, alleges the Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit, the plaintiff noted that mainly employees under 30 were being promoted to management positions, while those over 50 were stymied. In his own department, the plaintiff says that his supervisor, a 60-year-old, was replaced by a 30-year-old employee.

Volkswagen faces another recent class action lawsuit over its employment practices. According to another recent class action lawsuit, the way the company handled the notorious emission scandal harmed Volkswagen and Audi sales people economically and professionally.

“As part of a rebranding effort following Volkswagen’s global emissions scandal, Volkswagen AG Brand Chief, Dr. Herbert Diess, announced a new re-branding effort designed to shed Volkswagen’s old diesel image and replace it with the image of a modern, young company focused on productivity, efficiency, and technology,” states the Volkswagen age bias class action lawsuit. “As part of this, Volkswagen implemented a global policy consisting in part of eliminating older workers from the Company’s ranks.”

The plaintiff seeks to represent Volkswagen employees allegedly affected by the discriminatory policies. The plaintiff is seeking a court order stopping the practice and reinstating him and other putative Class Members to their previous positions.

Manlove is represented by Kevin Sharp, Leigh Anne St. Charles, David Sanford and Andrew Melzer of Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP.

The Volkswagen Age Bias Class Action Lawsuit is Manlove v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, et al., Case No. 1:18-­cv­-00145, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

UPDATE: On June 28, 2019, a federal judge determined that Volkswagen must face an employee age discrimination class action lawsuit, denying the company’s bid for dismissal.