A Butler County Children and Youth Services caseworker is alleging age discrimination by her employer.

Laurie Kubli, 51, of West Franklin Township, Armstrong County, recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The county received the notice on June 16.

Kubli said in an interview the county is discriminating against older workers.

“It seems to me there’s a pattern of older people being reprimanded and more experienced people being pushed out,” she said.

Kubli said five out of the last six promotions in CYS, a field employing mostly women, were handed to men with less experience.

She accuses the county of favoring younger men and women.

Kubli also alleges the county is retaliating against her for being forced to rehire her after a 2013 dismissal.

She recently received a pre-disciplinary letter about alleged conduct that ends with the warning: you may be terminated.

“It can be very disturbing,” Kubli said about the threat of being fired.

She said this personnel matter involves a situation being twisted into something it isn’t.

Joyce Ainsworth, CYS director, declined to comment on the discrimination complaint or possible disciplinary action.

“I can’t comment on any personnel issue,” Ainsworth said.

Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton declined to comment.

However, Commissioner Jim Eckstein said the county is wrong in how Kubli is being treated.

“I believe there’s merit to Laurie Kubli’s complaint,” Eckstein said.

He accused Kubli’s boss of being biased.

“Joyce Ainsworth is not fair to older women,” Eckstein said.

The county in August 2013 fired Kubli on the grounds of using poor judgment in an incident earlier that month.

The county accused Kubli of misrepresenting her status as a CYS caseworker for the purpose of interfering with the custody of a child.

Kubli, who is represented by the Service Employees International Union, was suspended before being fired in August 2013.

During an arbitration hearing through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Bureau of Mediation, Kubli and the union argued she was only advising a friend on how to handle an alleged abuse case.

The arbitrator in January ruled the county did not have just cause to fire Kubli, requiring the county to reinstate her and give her back pay.

She said the age discrimination complaint was filed to bring attention to how working conditions at CYS have deteriorated in recent years.

“There really is damage being done,” Kubli said.

She said the culture within the county is not conducive to doing the work CYS must do.

“I’d like to see a change in how things are done,” Kubli said.

She said county officials also bear a grudge for her work as a union representative.

Among Kubli’s prior conflicts with the county were receiving a one-day suspension in 2007 and a 2010 union grievance over comments made at a county commissioners meeting.

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board found the county guilty of unfair labor practices in the latter case.

Kubli said the county’s “constant attacks” are interfering with her job, where she prefers focusing her efforts.

“I really do enjoy working with children,” she said.