Court: Emergency Supply Agency Discriminated Against Employee Based on Age

Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency unlawfully discriminated against an employee based on age when dismissing them, the Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday. The decision, which is not yet final, supports a lower court's finding that the agency acted without proper grounds.

The agency dismissed a manager, who had worked there for over a decade, in late 2022 following joint negotiations. The agency cited production and economic reasons stemming from an organizational reform, stating the manager's previous role and potential new positions were not included in the new structure. The agency also claimed the manager's intent to retire meant their position was not needed.

However, the court found these reasons insufficient. Within a week of the negotiations, the agency posted 16 job openings, some of which appeared similar to the dismissed manager's former duties. The court also noted the agency failed to explore retraining options for the manager during the negotiations. Furthermore, the manager's tasks had been gradually reduced over several years without new responsibilities being assigned.

The Court of Appeal went further than the lower court, ruling that the agency had not conducted the joint negotiations in a timely manner and had not genuinely considered alternatives to dismissal. The agency has been ordered to pay the former employee 8,000 euros in compensation and 16,684 euros in legal costs with interest.