More people than ever are working past the traditional retirement age of 65. Some people stay in the workforce to accumulate more money to use during their retirement while others continue working simply because they love their job. It comes as no surprise that, with more seniors in the workplace, there are more incidents of age discrimination. Fortunately, there is a federal law that applies to all employers with 20 or more employees that prohibits discrimination based on age. The law is called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and it says that employers cannot terminate, refuse to hire or treat older workers differently because of their age.
If you think you have been a victim of discrimination based on your age, a discrimination lawyer may be able to help resolve the situation. A lawyer can help you file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC will thoroughly investigate the complaint and will determine if there is a basis for a claim. When you have a lawyer helping you with your complaint, you may be more likely to submit a complaint that is concise and well-worded so the EEOC investigator can understand exactly what happened and why you believe you were a victim of discrimination.
Your discrimination lawyer may also be able to find records of other discrimination complaints against your employer. If your employer has displayed a pattern of discrimination, it may be easier to prove your case. Examples of age discrimination in employment range from blatant comments from a hiring manager about wanting to fill an open position with a younger employee to denying promotions to older employees in favor of younger but less experienced workers.
The Law Offices of Filteau and Sullivan are there to help you. Whether you were turned down for a job or fired because the employer thought you were too old, you may be a victim of age discrimination. The law was written to protect older workers from acts like that and to encourage fairness and diversity in the workplace. You may be eligible for compensation from the employer if you win a lawsuit against them.
