By Tez Romero
Publication Date: 2026-08-11 13:52:00
That history sets the stage, but for HR professionals the heart of the case is what allegedly happened inside the worker’s own department.
She says three female colleagues over 50, all strong performers, were selected for termination in a reduction in force. According to the complaint, no men were cut, and no one under 50 was cut – even a younger male employee with documented performance concerns kept his job. The filing also alleges that every woman over 50 in her department except her was denied a 2024 bonus, despite being recognized high performers with long tenure. She received a 10 percent bonus.
Then came the early retirement push. IBM launched a program called “Next Step” on April 16, 2025, according to the filing. The complaint alleges her manager pressed another older woman to take the package and warned she would likely face a “Resource Action” before year-end if she declined. When the worker said she was not ready to retire, she…
