The EEOC doused expectations it would take prompt action on the hundreds of age discrimination complaints regarding conversions of traditional pension plans to cash balance plans.
The issues are too complex, and disagreement over interpretation of current age discrimination too difficult for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to determine whether the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects older workers affected by the conversions, agency Chairwoman Ida L. Castro wrote in a letter earlier this month to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. Mr. Grassley is chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
It would be premature for the commission to issue guidance at this point in time as we need to review a myriad of issues arising from the hundreds of charges recently received, Ms. Castro wrote.