People in Los Angeles take pride in a job well done. Maybe you do not have a fancy degree behind your name, but you have put in your time and hard work over the years, and you feel you are deserving of a promotion. It can be distressing, then, to see your younger co-workers receive promotions even though you have more work experience, and the promotions did not require any specific educational requirements. In this situation you may want to learn more about age discrimination.
Age discrimination under federal law
The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits age discrimination against workers who are at or above 40-years-old. This includes discrimination in hiring, laying off, pay earned, job assignments, promotions and any other term or condition of employment. Employment policies or practices that apply to all workers are discriminatory if they have a negative effect on those age 40 or older and are not based on a factor other than how old the worker is.
Age discrimination and harassment
It is also against federal law to harass a worker due to their age. Harassment includes making offensive or derogatory statements about a worker’s age. Mere teasing or one-time comments does not meet the threshold of harassment for the purposes of the ADEA. The harassment must be so frequent or severe that it results in a hostile work environment or adverse employment actions.
Protect your rights
Ultimately, you do not deserve to be passed up for a promotion you are qualified for based on your age alone. Such acts may run afoul of the ADEA. If this applies to you, you will want to learn more about your legal rights and options so you can make informed employment decisions moving forward.