May have backing of employment commissions

A Florida man, Michael Katz, is accusing Apple of breaking the state's Civil Rights Act through its promotion practices. Starting in March 2006, Katz began working at the Millenia Mall Apple Store in Orlando. 60 at the time, Katz says that he several times sought the chance to be promoted to Creative status, but was denied in every instance.

Katz alleges that he was discriminated against because of his age, according to AppleInsider, since the people who did manage to get Creative positions were at least 15 years younger, and less qualified. "Katz was not provided with any explanation for his repeated denial of promotion opportunities," court documents read. "Rather, his supervisor simply denied that Katz had ever expressed a desire to obtain a Creative position."

Katz claims to have been "constructively terminated" from the Millenia store a little over a year later, in September 2007. He then filed discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. In June 2009, the EEOC is said to have agreed that there was "reasonable cause" to think Apple engaged in age discrimination. No conciliation with Apple was reached, however, and the FCHR did not make any ruling.

As compensation, Katz is seeking damages as well as back pay. Apple regularly associates a youthful look with its workers in Apple Store advertising; many of the people featured in photos are in their 20s.

by MacNN Staff