Discrimination against Education?

[sharon1977]

The company I work for has hired a new employee to over see the operations of the company. Most of the salary employees have been here 8 years plus. We have 4 employees that have been with the company 14 years or more.

He has started firing some of the salary employees. No reason given other than "this was an at will " decision. We have found someone else to do the job, etc. There is nothing in the employee's file saying they were unhappy with their work, etc. 5 employees have been over 40 years old. Black, Hispanics and a couple of white people. The only thing that these employees have in common with each other is...they don't have a college education. There are two people left in salary that don't have a college education which was known when they hired on. One has been here 15 years, the other 8 years. This new guy is very into a college education. The new people that they are hiring all have college degree's. I guess what I am asking is, can they terminate you because you do not have a college degree and it was NOT a requirement when hired on? If they get rid of the two people that are left, will they and the others have a cause for a law suit?

Thanks!:no:

 

[cbg]

Education, or the lack thereof, is not a protected characteristic under the law. An employer is free to discriminate in this regard.

Caveat:

Although education, per se, is not protected, an employer who (as an example) requires a college degree to do a janitor's job would be in danger of a discrimination suit as such a policy could be seen as having an adverse affect on certain races.

 

[seniorjudge]

...

Although education, per se, is not protected, an employer who (as an example) requires a college degree to do a janitor's job would be in danger of a discrimination suit as such a policy could be seen as having an adverse affect on certain races.

....

Please elaborate. (As you know, I am ignorant when it comes to employment law and am willing to learn!)

:angel

 

[cbg]

Google Griggs vs. Duke Power Co.

Education is not a protected characteristic.

However, Griggs establishes that requiring an unreasonable level of education for the position in question can result in illegal discrimination, by way of an adverse impact.

 

[seniorjudge]

Google Griggs vs. Duke Power Co.

Education is not a protected characteristic.

However, Griggs establishes that requiring an unreasonable level of education for the position in question can result in illegal discrimination, by way of an adverse impact.

Cool.

You'd think you'd want a college educated janitor in a nuclear facility.