A former employee has taken legal action against a prominent logistics company, alleging age discrimination and harassment. Mary Harter filed the complaint against Hub Group, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on June 11, 2024.
According to the complaint, Harter, who worked as a collections specialist for Hub Group from May 2000 until her termination in February 2024, claims she was subjected to discriminatory treatment and a hostile work environment due to her age. The lawsuit cites violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects employees over the age of 40 from workplace discrimination based on age.
Harter's troubles began in June 2023 when Autumn Heather, a newly hired vice president at Hub Group, allegedly made inappropriate comments about Harter's age. Heather reportedly expressed disgust upon learning that Harter was 71 years old, saying "Oh my god, I would never do that!" This incident marked the beginning of what Harter describes as ongoing disparate treatment and harassment from Heather.
The complaint details how Harter was held accountable for poor performance related to bad accounts assigned by Heather in October 2023. Despite meeting or exceeding performance expectations throughout her nearly 24-year tenure at Hub Group, Harter faced criticism and scrutiny that younger employees with worse performance records did not experience. For instance, an employee in their twenties with poorer numbers than Harter was not subjected to similar treatment.
Harter alleges that this discriminatory behavior culminated in her termination on February 23, 2024. She asserts that the reason given for her dismissal—poor performance—was merely a pretext for age-based discrimination. Another older employee also faced similar treatment under Heather's supervision.
In addition to seeking back pay with interest and compensation for lost benefits, Harter is requesting front pay and compensatory and punitive damages. She is also asking for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs associated with the lawsuit. The case underscores ongoing issues of age discrimination in the workplace and highlights the protections offered under federal law.
The plaintiff is represented by Chad W. Eisenback of Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no information about the defendant’s legal representation is provided in the document. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-04815.