As Boomers, we should boycott Best Buy

[dflprincess]

A group of employees laid off by Best Buy at their corporate offices in Minneapols have filed an age discrimination suit against the company (sorry, I don't have a link, it was in the Minneapolis Star Tribune a couple weeks ago).

The way I see this, if Best Buy doesn't want folks over 40 working for them, then they probably don't need us spending our money at their stores. Let's show some Boomer Power, especially this time of year, and shop somewhere else.

My Disclaimer: This is a somewhat personal issue for me. In September, the company I worked for laid off 250 of us. As near as anyone can figure this also appears to have been an aged based layoff. Unlike the Best Buy lay off, ours was nationwide so it's hard to get an exact count of exactly who was laid off. I know that everyone I know was over 40 except for one person. They also did the same thing last July in another division of the company. However, this company doesn't have any retail products so they'd be harder to boycott.

[NMDemDist2]

1. this is a trend in many companies

they lay off older workers who make the most money (and have the most experience) so they can hire kids straight out of college for half the money

[msgadget]

2. Cheaper labor,

when will anyone in power stand up against it in all its manifestations?!

[dflprincess]

3. Age discrimination is against the law

Unfortunately, it's difficult to prove and the standard severence agreement includes a clause that you won't sue even if discrimination was the reason you were laid off. Most people cannot afford to pass up their severence package.

The only way outfits like Best Buy will get the message is if people stop shopping there.

[Lindsey]

4. Not only that...

but Best Buy is a major Repub. contributor. That's why I didn't get gift certificates there this year.

[naryaquid]

5. ...All good reasons!

[Baja Margie]

6. Done.

[Cobalt Violet]

7. And repugs want to raise the retirement age to over 68?

How are you suppose to find a job at 68 when corporate America won't hire anyone over 40?

[TexasSissy]

8. I think it's worth pointing out that simply because a lawsuit was filed

does not mean that it's true. It takes more evidence than the mere fact of filing a lawsuit to prove anything.

But it's worth keeping an eye on, and if proven, I won't be shopping there anymore. (But the stores I can shop at keeps dwindling...first WalMart, then Best Buy, then what?)