Age discrimination in the workplace is unlawful in California and across the country. As an issue impacting employees’ careers and well-being, state and federal laws offer protections and remedies for harmed workers.
If you are experiencing adverse treatment in the workplace and suspect age discrimination is the root cause, it is time to learn more.
Signs of Age Discrimination
Like other forms of occupational mistreatment, age discrimination can manifest in several ways, including these prohibited actions:
- Making or allowing derogatory comments about an employee’s age
- Consistently hiring younger candidates over older, equally qualified applicants
- Passing older employees over for advancement in favor of younger workers
- Giving less desirable tasks to older workers compared to younger colleagues
- Pressuring older employees to retire or step down
- Eliminating job positions held only by older workers
Promoting an exclusively youthful corporate culture in the workplace may also be a form of age discrimination.
State and federal laws that protect employees
Along with federal age discrimination laws, impacted workers in California also have robust state protections.
- California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA): Prohibits age discrimination against workers 40 and older. It applies to employers with five or more employees.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): A federal law protecting those aged 40 and older from workplace discrimination. It applies to employers with 20 or more employees.
These laws may not only deter or even prevent age discrimination – they can help to ensure employees have legal recourse if such discrimination occurs. An experienced employment law representative can help you file the proper complaint forms and seek a satisfactory remedy for your mistreatment.