Amer Sports Settles Age Bias Lawsuit with EEOC for $350,000

The recreational gear company faced allegations of unlawful retaliation against an employee who complained about age discrimination.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Company has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging unlawful retaliation under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The lawsuit claimed that the company terminated an employee in Boulder, Colorado less than six weeks after he complained about age discrimination during a company restructuring, where younger colleagues were placed in new leadership roles without giving older workers a chance to apply.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges older workers face in the workplace, especially during periods of organizational change. The EEOC lawsuit alleged that Amer Sports failed to properly investigate the employee's age discrimination concerns, and instead retaliated against him for speaking up, which is illegal under federal law.

The details

According to the EEOC lawsuit, the employee in Boulder, Colorado complained multiple times about age discrimination at Amer Sports during a company restructuring. The employee alleged that younger colleagues were placed in new leadership roles without giving older workers the opportunity to apply. Instead of investigating the potential age bias, the company terminated the employee less than six weeks after he escalated his complaints.

  • The EEOC lawsuit was filed in 2024.
  • Amer Sports agreed to the $350,000 settlement in March 2026.

The players

Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Company

A recreational gear company that faced allegations of unlawful retaliation against an employee who complained about age discrimination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The federal agency that filed the lawsuit against Amer Sports alleging violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The settlement agreement requires Amer Sports to provide additional training to managers on preventing age discrimination and retaliation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges older workers face in the workplace, and the importance of companies thoroughly investigating age discrimination complaints and avoiding retaliation against employees who speak up about potential bias.