IBM most definitely was discriminating on purpose.
They also tried a back door route to firing by purposefully re-assigning aging IBMers into designed to fail positions. Positions that were forced to sell a narrow portfolio of products, to a fixed customer list, with 0 pipeline, and a ridiculous quota. They did this on purpose so after 2 or so quarters of not being able to produce, they could outright fire them instead of laying off. They did this to even gold circle sales staff that were now over 50. I hope they get sued into oblivion...