New Mexico Nursing Home to Pay $75,000 After Supervisor Told Workers They Were Too Old to Get New Jobs

Albuquerque, New Mexico — A federal judge has signed off on a $75,000 settlement against a New Mexico nursing home that allowed a supervisor to bully two older employees for years — telling them they were “too old to get new jobs” and that no one would hire women their age.

The settlement, approved by a US District Court judge on February 24, resolves a case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against South Valley Care Center in Albuquerque. The facility, which holds a 5-star rating, will also issue a formal written apology to the two former workers and undergo two years of enhanced anti-discrimination training under the terms of the decree.

What the EEOC Found

The agency alleged that Housekeeping and Laundry Supervisor Leonarda Valencia targeted two workers — Maria Nevarez and Maria Perez — with repeated comments about their ages over the course of several years.

When Nevarez, who worked in the facility’s laundry department, became pregnant in her 40s, Valencia allegedly said, “You should be ashamed of yourself. Getting pregnant at 40 years old. You don’t do your job right like that.” By 2021, according to the EEOC, age-based comments had become a regular feature of the workplace.

Perez joined the facility at age 56 in 2022. Shortly after, the EEOC alleges Valencia began telling both women that no one would hire “old women like them” and that they were “too old to get new jobs.”

The agency also alleged that Valencia — who is bilingual and had routinely translated for Spanish-speaking employees — began pretending not to speak Spanish and telling workers she could simply hire English-only staff.

Complaints Were Ignored

In May 2022, the two women, along with another laundry aide, brought their concerns to South Valley’s human resources director and facility administrator. Industry reports indicate the facility failed to investigate. A second meeting in late June, which became “heated,” also produced no action.

Both Nevarez and Perez were fired later that summer.

The settlement requires South Valley to hire an outside consultant within 60 days to review and revamp its equal employment opportunity policies. Training requirements are most stringent for management and HR staff. The facility is also permanently barred from rehiring Valencia.

A Reminder for Operators

Age discrimination in nursing homes is a real liability — and not just for residents. The case is a reminder that the workforce caring for elderly patients deserves the same protections the sector champions in its own marketing.

South Valley did not respond to requests for comment.