trans world airlines thurston argued october decided january together air line pilots association international thurston et also certiorari age discrimination employment act adea amended prohibit mandatory retirement protected employee age concerned retirement policy least applied flight engineers violated adea petitioner trans world airlines twa adopted plan permitting employee flight engineer status age continue working capacity plan however give captains pilots right automatically begin training flight engineers instead captain may remain airline able obtain flight engineer status bidding procedures outlined agreement twa petitioner air line pilots association alpa procedures require captain prior birthday submit standing bid position flight engineer vacancy occurs assigned senior captain standing bid vacancy occurs prior birthday lacks sufficient seniority bid successfully vacancies occur captain retired agreement captain displaced reason besides age need resort bidding procedure example captain medically disabled whose position eliminated due reduced manpower may displace automatically bump less senior flight engineer respondent former twa captains hereafter respondents retired upon reaching age denied opportunity bump less senior flight engineer two forced retire twa adopted new plan thus denied opportunity become flight engineers bidding procedures third filed standing bid position flight engineer vacancies occurred prior birthday forced retire respondents filed action twa alpa federal district claiming twa transfer policy violated adea proscribes differential treatment older workers respect privileg employment allowed captains displaced reasons age bump less senior flight engineers allow privilege employment captains compelled vacate positions upon reaching age district entered summary judgment favor twa alpa holding respondents failed establish prima facie case age discrimination test set forth mcdonnell douglas green affirmative defenses provided employer may take action otherwise prohibited age bona fide occupational qualification bfoq unlawful employer adopt bona fide seniority system adea justified twa transfer policy appeals reversed holding mcdonnell douglas test inapposite respondents adduced direct proof age discrimination twa required afford captains privilege employment bumping less senior flight engineers allowed captains disqualified reasons age affirmative defenses adea justify twa discriminatory transfer policy twa liable liquidated double damages adea violation adea willful within meaning section held twa transfer policy denies captains privilege employment basis age violation adea captains disqualified age afforded bumping privilege captains disqualified reasons age instead must resort bidding procedures adea require twa grant transfer privileges disqualified captains nevertheless grant disqualified captains privilege bumping less senior flight engineers may deny opportunity others age mcdonnell douglas test inapplicable plaintiff presents direct evidence discrimination direct evidence transfer method available captain depends age since allows captains disqualified reason age bump less senior flight engineers twa transfer policy discriminatory face pp affirmative defenses provided support argument twa discriminatory transfer policy justified bfoq defense meritless age bfoq position flight engineer twa policy viewed part bona fide seniority system system includes discriminatory transfer policy permits forced retirement captains basis age pp twa violation adea willful within meaning therefore respondents entitled liquidated double damages violation willful within meaning employer knew conduct prohibited adea showed reckless disregard whether prohibited employer simply knew potential applicability adea adea picture latter broad standard result award double damages almost every case twa certainly know conduct violated adea fairly said twa adopted transfer policy reckless disregard adea requirements record makes clear twa officials acted reasonably good faith attempting determine whether policy violate adea pp powell delivered opinion unanimous henry oechler argued cause petitioner briefs donald strauber peter hillman michael abram argued cause filed briefs air line pilots association international petitioner respondent deputy solicitor general wallace argued cause respondent equal employment opportunity commission cases briefs solicitor general lee harriet shapiro johnny butler philip sklover raymond fay argued cause cases filed brief respondents thurston et al briefs alan serwer susan fn briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed equal employment advisory council robert williams douglas mcdowell thomas bagby chamber commerce stephen bokat robin conrad robert weinberg jeremiah collins laurence gold filed brief american federation labor congress industrial organizations amicus curiae urging affirmance edward foote edward wendrow filed brief airlines amicus curiae justice powell delivered opinion trans world airlines twa commercial airline permits captains disqualified serving capacity reasons age transfer automatically position flight engineer case must decide whether age discrimination employment act adea stat amended et requires airline afford privilege employment captains disqualified age also must decide constitutes willful violation adea entitling plaintiff liquidated double damages twa approximately employees fill three cockpit positions flights captain pilot controls aircraft responsible phases operation first officer copilot assists captain flight engineer usually monitors instrument panel operate flight controls unless captain first officer become incapacitated twa airline pilots association alpa entered agreement every employee cockpit position required retire reached age provision mandatory retirement lawful adea part bona fide seniority system see air lines mcmann april however act amended prohibit mandatory retirement protected individual age twa officials became concerned company retirement policy least applied flight engineers violated amended adea july twa announced amended adea prohibited forced retirement flight engineers age company thus proposed new policy employees three cockpit positions upon reaching age allowed continue working flight engineers twa stated implement new policy benefit alpa views alpa views long coming union contended agreement prohibited employment flight engineer birthday proposed change required recently amended adea despite opposition union twa adopted modified version proposal plan employee flight engineer status age entitled continue working capacity new plan unlike initial proposal give captains right automatically begin training flight engineers instead captain may remain airline able obtain flight engineer status bidding procedures outlined agreement procedures require captain prior birthday submit standing bid position flight engineer vacancy occurs assigned senior captain standing bid vacancy occurs prior birthday lacks sufficient seniority bid successfully vacancies occur captain retired agreement captain displaced reason besides age need resort bidding procedures example captain unable maintain requisite medical certificate see cfr may displace automatically bump less senior flight engineer medically disabled captain ability bump depend upon availability vacancy similarly captain whose position eliminated due reduced manpower needs bump less senior flight engineer even captain found incompetent serve capacity discharged allowed transfer position flight engineer without resort bidding procedures respondents harold thurston christopher clark clifton parkhill former captains twa retired upon reaching age denied opportunity bump less senior flight engineer thurston forced retire may company adopted new policy clark attempt bid twa advised bidding affect chances obtaining transfer two captains thus effectively denied opportunity become flight engineers bidding procedures third captain parkhill file standing bid position flight engineer vacancies occurred prior parkhill birthday however forced retire thurston clark parkhill filed action twa alpa district southern district new york argued company transfer policy violated adea stat airline allowed captains displaced reasons age bump less senior flight engineers captains compelled vacate positions upon reaching age claimed afforded privilege employment equal employment opportunity commission intervened behalf captains discharged result inability displace less senior flight engineers district entered summary judgment favor defendants twa alpa air line pilots assn trans world air lines supp held plaintiffs failed establish prima facie case age discrimination test set forth mcdonnell douglas green none show time transfer request vacancy existed position flight engineer see furthermore found two affirmative defenses justified company transfer policy appeals second circuit reversed district judgment found mcdonnell douglas formula inapposite plaintiffs adduced direct proof age discrimination captains disqualified reasons age allowed bump less senior flight engineers therefore company required adea afford captains privilege employment appeals also held affirmative defenses adea justify company discriminatory transfer policy twa held liable liquidated double damages violation adea found willful according employer conduct willful knows shows reckless disregard matter whether conduct prohibited adea twa clearly aware adea amendments appeals found respondents entitled double damages twa filed petition writ certiorari challenged appeals holding transfer policy violated adea twa violation willful union filed raising liability issue granted certiorari cases consolidated argument affirm violation adea reverse claim double damages ii adea broadly prohibits arbitrary discrimination workplace based age lorillard pons section act proscribes differential treatment older workers respect privileg employment twa transfer policy captains denied privilege employment basis age captains become disqualified serving position reasons age automatically able displace less senior flight engineers captains disqualified age afforded bumping privilege instead forced resort bidding procedures set forth agreement vacancy prior bidding captain birthday must retire act require twa grant transfer privileges disqualified captains nevertheless twa grant disqualified captains privilege bumping less senior flight engineers may deny opportunity others age hishon king spalding held benefit part parcel employment relationship may doled discriminatory fashion even employer free provide benefit interpretation title vii civil rights act et applies equal force context age discrimination substantive provisions adea derived haec verba title vii lorillard pons supra twa contends respondents failed make prima facie case age discrimination mcdonnell douglas green time retired flight engineer vacancies existed argument fails mcdonnell douglas test inapplicable plaintiff presents direct evidence discrimination see teamsters shifting burdens proof set forth mcdonnell douglas designed assure plaintiff day despite unavailability direct evidence loeb textron case direct evidence method transfer available disqualified captain depends upon age since allows captains become disqualified reason age bump less senior flight engineers twa transfer policy discriminatory face cf los angeles dept water power manhart employer policy requiring female employees make larger contribution pension fund male employees discriminatory face although find twa transfer policy discriminates disqualified captains basis age inquiry end petitioners contend transfer policy justified two adea five affirmative defenses petitioners first argue discharge respondents lawful age bona fide occupational qualification bfoq position captain furthermore twa claims retirement policy part bona fide seniority system thus exempt act coverage section adea provides employer may take action otherwise prohibited age bona fide occupational qualification order permissible however discrimination must relate particular business ibid every consider issue assumed particular business statute refers job protected individual excluded weeks southern bell tel tel example considered title vii claim female employee sex allowed transfer position switchman deciding bfoq defense available defendant considered job switchman twa discriminatory transfer policy permissible age bfoq particular position flight engineer necessary recognize airline two policies captains allowed serve capacity reaching age ii captains given transfer privileges afforded captains disqualified reasons first policy precludes individuals serving captains challenged respondents second practice operate exclude protected individuals position captain rather prevents qualified working flight engineers thus particular job flight engineer respondents excluded discriminatory transfer policy age bfoq position flight engineer discrimination issue case justified twa nevertheless contends bfoq argument supported legislative history amendments adea congress amended adea prohibit involuntary retirement protected individuals basis age members congress concerned amendment might construed limiting employer ability terminate workers subject valid bfoq senate proposed amendment providing employer establish mandatory retirement age age bfoq pp conference committee however proposed amendment withdrawn senate conferees agreed neither added worked change upon present law conf house committee report also indicated individual compelled retire position age bfoq pt legislative history amendments support petitioners position history shows adea prohibit twa retiring disqualified captains including incapacitated age mean however twa make dependent upon age individual availability transfer position age bfoq nothing legislative history cited petitioners indicates congressional intention allow employer discriminate older worker seeking transfer another position ground age bfoq former job twa also contends discriminatory transfer policy lawful act part bona fide seniority system appeals held airline retirement policy mandated negotiated seniority plan need address finding seniority system includes challenged practice bona fide statute act provides seniority system may require permit involuntary retirement protected individual age ibid although faa age rule may caused respondents retirement twa seniority plan certainly permitted within meaning adea ibid moreover captains disqualified reasons age allowed bump less senior flight engineers mandatory retirement therefore bona fide seniority system defense unavailable petitioners summary twa transfer policy discriminates protected individuals basis age thereby violates act two statutory defenses raised petitioners support argument discrimination justified bfoq defense meritless age bona fide occupational qualification position flight engineer job respondents excluded twa policy viewed part bona fide seniority system system includes discriminatory transfer policy permits forced retirement captains basis age iii section adea stat provides rights created act enforced accordance powers remedies procedures fair labor standards act see lorillard pons remedial provisions two statutes identical congress declined incorporate adea several flsa sections moreover flsa makes award liquidated damages mandatory significantly qualified adea proviso prevailing plaintiff entitled double damages cases willful violations case appeals held twa violation adea willful respondents therefore entitled double damages granted certiorari review holding legislative history adea indicates congress intended liquidated damages punitive nature original bill proposed administration incorporated flsa imposes criminal liability willful violation see cong rec senator javits found certain serious defects administration bill stated difficult problems proof arise criminal provision employer invocation fifth amendment might impede investigation conciliation enforcement therefore proposed flsa criminal penalty cases willful violation eliminated double damage liability substituted ibid senator javits argued proposed amendment furnish effective deterrent willful violations adea incorporated adea minor modification sess recognized enacting adea congress exhibited detailed knowledge flsa provisions judicial interpretation lorillard pons supra manner flsa interpreted therefore relevant general courts found employer subject criminal penalties flsa wholly disregards law without making reasonable effort determine whether plan following constitute violation law nabob oil cert denied see also darby standard substantially accord interpretation willful adopted appeals interpreting liquidated damages provision adea stated violation act willful employer knew showed reckless disregard matter whether conduct prohibited adea given legislative history liquidated damages provision think reckless disregard standard reasonable definition willful adopted cited courts consistent manner interpreted term criminal civil statutes murdock defendant prosecuted revenue acts made misdemeanor person willfully fail pay required tax murdock stated conduct willful within meaning criminal statute marked careless disregard whether one right act illinois central applied murdock definition willful civil case defendant failure unload cattle car willful showed disregard governing statute indifference requirements respondents argue employer conduct willful cognizant appreciable possibility employees involved covered adea support position respondents cite act ppa incorporated adea flsa section ppa provides statute limitations period unless violation willful case limitations period extended three years several courts held violation willful within meaning employer knew adea picture see coleman jiffy june farms cert denied eeoc central kansas medical center respondents contend term willful interpreted similar manner applying liquidated damages provision adea unpersuaded respondents argument violation act willful employer simply knew potential applicability adea even picture standard appropriate statute limitations standard govern provision dealing liquidated damages importantly broad standard proposed respondents result award double damages almost every case employers required post adea notices virtually impossible employer show unaware act potential applicability legislative history structure statute show congress intended liability scheme decline interpret liquidated damages provision adea manner frustrates intent noted appeals stated violation willful employer either knew showed reckless disregard matter whether conduct prohibited adea although hold acceptable way articulate definition willful misapplied standard twa certainly know conduct violated act fairly said twa adopted transfer policy reckless disregard act requirements record makes clear twa officials acted reasonably good faith attempting determine whether plan violate adea see nabob oil supra shortly adea amended twa officials met lawyers determine whether mandatory retirement policy violated act concluding company existing plan inconsistent adea david crombie airline senior vice president administration proposed new policy despite opposition union company adopted modified version initial proposal plan adopted august pilot flight engineer status birthday continue work airline day plan adopted union filed suit airline claiming new retirement policy constituted major change agreement thus barred railway labor act nevertheless twa adhered new policy evidence willfulness respondents point comments made frankum vice president flight operations crombie hospitalized august frankum assumed responsibility bringing twa retirement policy conformance adea despite legal advice contrary frankum initially believed company required allow pilot work frankum later abandoned position favor plan approved august frankum apparently concerned whether flight engineers work reaching age indication twa ever advised counsel new transfer policy discriminated captains basis age simply evidence twa acted reckless disregard requirements adea airline obligations agreement airline pilots association attempt bring retirement policy compliance adea time observing terms agreement twa sought legal advice consulted union despite opposition union plan adopted permitted cockpit employees work flight engineers reaching age apparently twa officials airline attorneys failed focus specifically effect aspect new retirement policy cockpit personnel reasonable believe parties involved focusing larger overall problem simply overlooked challenged aspect new plan conclude twa violation act willful within meaning respondents therefore entitled liquidated damages iv adea requires twa afford captains transfer privileges gives captains disqualified reasons age therefore affirm appeals issue agree holding twa violation act willful accordingly reverse judgment respondents entitled liquidated double damages ordered footnotes section age discrimination employment act amendments pub stat regulation promulgated federal aviation administration prohibits anyone serving age pilot commercial carrier cfr captains first officers considered pilots subject regulation flight engineers therefore twa officials concerned primarily effect amendments company policy mandatory retirement flight engineers proposal announced letter alpa david crombie twa senior vice president administration date twa implemented new policy alpa filed suit company alpa contended twa action constituted unilateral change working conditions hence violative railway labor act action alpa trans world airlines consolidated present action district southern district new york granted summary judgment favor twa appeals second circuit affirmed held new retirement policy constitute major change existing terms conditions employment union therefore without remedy federal courts see term captain hereinafter used refer positions captain first officer twa imposed additional restriction captains bidding flight engineer positions successful bidders required fulfill bids timely manner amended practice captains bid successfully positions flight engineers required activate bids immediately result many captains age trained assumed flight engineer positions resulting lower pay responsibility pilot must able obtain medical certificate required position flight engineer see cfr disabled captain lacks sufficient seniority displace discharged rather entitled go unpaid medical leave five years time retains continues accrue seniority flight engineers current last former domiciles displaced captain may bumped captain insufficient seniority displace flight engineer either domiciles discharged instead placed furlough status period years time continues accrue seniority purposes recall although agreement address disciplinary downgrades twa vice president flight operations frankum stated downgrades occurred many times many years captains disqualified reasons also allowed bump less senior flight engineers example agreement provides captain fails requalify position discharged three eeoc claimants settled twa remaining seven claimants lusk bobzin gowling widmayer humbles roquemore lewis lusk bobzin retired prior august thus like harold thurston way knowing bidding procedures agreement represent possible means transferring position flight engineer gowling widmayer humbles roquemore submitted standing bids position flight engineer vacancies occurred prior time reached age discharged lewis submitted bid awarded position flight engineer october january told fulfill bid timely manner see supra required lewis assume new position almost year prior birthday refused appear training therefore bid canceled twa appeals also found alpa violated adea prohibits unions causing attempting cause employer engage unlawful discrimination found however alpa liable damages held adea permit recovery monetary damages including backpay labor organization noted adea incorporates remedial scheme fair labor standards act allow actions unions recover damages petition writ certiorari twa raised issue union liability damages adea although granted petition full conclude without jurisdiction consider question twa proper party present question airline assert right others recover damages union individual respondents eeoc argue issue union liability properly respondents failed file raising question prevailing party may advance ground support judgment favor dandridge williams argument modify judgment however presented unless filed fea algonquin sng case judgment appeals modified arguments advanced eeoc individual plaintiffs contending union liable monetary damages discriminatory transfer policy may violate act even though captains able obtain positions flight engineers bidding procedures see phillips martin marietta per curiam also noted many captains obtained positions flight engineers forced assume position prior reaching age see supra adversely affected discriminatory transfer policy despite fact obtained positions flight engineers several courts appeals recognized similarity two statutes hodgson first federal savings loan example appeals fifth circuit stated minor exceptions prohibitions adea terms identical title vii civil rights act litigation respondents challenged twa claim faa regulation establishes bfoq position captain eeoc guidelines however list faa rule example bfoq eeoc wishes avoid appearance endorses rule cfr petitioners contend age bfoq position flight engineer indeed airline employed least flight engineers years old courts held employer action may willful within meaning flsa even though evil motive bad purpose see nabob oil agree twa argument unless intended violate act double damages inappropriate adea one appeals expressed approval position see loeb textron definition willful set forth murdock illinois central applied courts interpreting numerous criminal civil statutes see alabama power ferc messina construction occupational safety health review courts appeals divided whether congress intended willfulness standard identical determining liquidated damages purposes limitations period compare spagnuolo whirlpool standards identical cert denied kelly american standard standards different picture standard proposed respondents allow recovery liquidated damages even employer acted reasonably complete good faith congress hardly intended result interpreted flsa originally enacted allowing recovery liquidated damages time violation act see overnight motor transportation missel response dissatisfaction harsh interpretation provision congress enacted act see lorillard pons section ppa provides employer defense mandatory award liquidated damages show good faith reasonable grounds believing violation flsa section adea incorporate ppa contra hays republic steel nevertheless think concerns reflected proviso adea dissent judge van graafeiland also focused larger problem rather discriminatory transfer policy judge van graafeiland stated twa trunk airline voluntarily permitted persons continue working flight engineers instead receiving commendation done twa held liable matter law age discrimination