Lowe’s Must Face Class Age Bias Claim Over Associate Pay Change

Lowe’s Home Centers LLC must face part of a proposed class lawsuit alleging age discrimination in its plan to stop making commission-like payments to its sales associates, the Middle District of Florida ruled.

Diane Bartholomew and Michael Sherry sued after Lowe’s announced in August its decision to end an “Allowance” scheme adopted in 2012. Under the program, sales associates have received annual payments equal to roughly 50% of the “spiffs” they earned in 2011. Spiffs are based on commissions the home retailer received from manufacturers for selling their products. Bartholomew and Sherry allege elimination of the Allowance, though neutral on ...