Employment & Age Discrimination in the WorkplaceBy Rasheed Scott

Equal Employment Opportunity Act

Intended to protect against discrimination (i.e unfair advantages or disadvantages) in employment based on basis of, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation and religious preferences.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (1967): protects against discrimination in personnel decisions, that include hiring, promotion, pay and layoffs for workers age 40 and up.

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990): protect persons with disabilities from employment discrimination, and discrimination in transportation and communications. Also implements that businesses and employers make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities.

• Age discrimination also affects younger workers as well.

• The downside younger employees are not protected by the ADEA, unless it comes down to harassment about their age.

• Very few states have laws that prohibit discrimination against younger workers.

• Just because young employees are not protected directly under the ADEA does not mean they can use their ages as means of discrimination in other forms. (i.e defamation)