Age discrimination and your rights as an employee

You have the right to work or pursue work without fear of discrimination or harassment based on your gender, race, religion and other factors. Despite the fact that there are both state and federal laws in place that protect these rights, some California workers and applicants still experience unfair treatment every day. If you are a victim, you do not have to stay silent.

One of the things that you do not have to tolerate is discrimination on the basis of your age. You may be older, but that does not mean you are not capable of providing quality results and adding exceptional value to a team. However, many employers have a negative perspective on older workers, and you may experience various types of unfair and illegal treatment. You can fight back.

Are you a victim?

There is a federal law, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, that protects your rights as an older individual to seek work and hold employment in an environment free from harassment and discrimination. The provisions specified by the ADEA include:

• Protects you from age discrimination at any point in the employment process, including during interviews, hiring, promotions and training
• Prevents employers from advertising open positions with age limitations unless it is a genuine qualification based on the nature of the job or safety
• Protects older employees from taking forced retirement under pressure from the employer
• Prevents an employer from taking away life insurance, health care coverage and other benefits from older employees

In addition to these things, the ADEA protects you from the possibility of facing retaliation or other type of punishment for filing a claim against your employer. Dealing with discrimination can be intimidating, disheartening and overwhelming, but you do not have to suffer in silence. You have the right to speak up and speak out.

What to next 

Once you establish that the treatment you are experiencing is age discrimination, you may want to move forward with a civil claim against your employer. But where should you begin with this process? Taking legal action is not easy, and it may help to start with a complete evaluation of your case.

There is significant benefit in working with an attorney who is experienced with employment law and knows what it takes to defend individuals who are dealing with age discrimination at work. You may be able to secure damages and restitution for the unfair treatment you endured.