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PJP Heath, Inc. will pay a total of $300,000 to three former employees to settle a lawsuit for age-based harassment, discrimination and retaliation filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  This Long Island sales insurance company is currently located in Melville, Long Island and also had a former location in Lake Success.

The EEOC's lawsuit charged that the company's management made discriminatory age-related comments and refused to promote one of the claimants based on her age.  The agency also said that the employer terminated two employees based on their age and fired a third claimant within three days after an internal meeting with her about her discrimination complaint. 

Discrimination against those 40 and older and retaliation for opposing or reporting it violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).  The EEOC filed suit in July 2013 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Civil Action No. 2:13-cv- 4092) after first attempting to reach a settlement out of court through its conciliation process.

The court entered the consent decree on April 30, 2014.  In addition to monetary payments, the resolution requires PJP Health to take steps to prevent future age-based harassment, discrimination or retaliation, including conducting training for all employees and management, reporting any complaints and the company's responses to the EEOC and posting a notice informing employees about the settlement.

Preserving access to the legal system and preventing harassment through systemic enforcement and targeted outreach are two of six national priorities identified by the EEOC's Strategic Enforcement Plan.