IMG Medical Group to Pay $64,000 to Resolve EEOC Age Discrimination Charge

TAMPA, Fla. - Independent Medical Group, LLC (IMG), a health care provider with several clinics across Florida, agreed to conciliate an age discrimination charge filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

During the EEOC's investigation of the charge, the agency found reasonable cause to believe the provider violated federal law by terminating an employee on the basis of age in July 2023. The company's alleged conduct violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits employment discrimination against people 40 years of age or older.

"Age discrimination continues to be a persistent problem in the workplace," said Evangeline Hawthorne, district director for the EEOC's Miami District. "Employees aged 40 and older come with significant expertise and are an essential part of the workforce."

Following the EEOC's cause determination, the parties successfully engaged in the EEOC's pre-litigation conciliation process. As part of the resolution, IMG agreed to pay the employee $64,000 in damages, representing his full back pay and liquidated damages. In addition, IMG will implement annual training on age discrimination for both employees and human resources and management staff. In addition, IMG will revise its employment policies to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of age and list examples of age discrimination. Further, IMG agreed to report on any future complaints of age discrimination for a period of five years.

EEOC Tampa Field Office Director Tamra Schweiberger said, "This resolution, announced on the ADEA's signing anniversary, serves as a reminder that employers cannot discriminate on the basis of age. IMG has committed to preventing and addressing age discrimination, including training its decision makers to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations."

For more information on age discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/age-discrimination.

The Miami District Office's jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division; the EEOC is responsible for investigating charges against state and local government employers before referring them to DOJ for potential litigation. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.