You never thought of yourself to be at risk of age discrimination, but on your 40th birthday, you looked around your Florida workplace and suddenly realized you’re the oldest one there. Then, the jokes started, and people began making fun of how old you are. These jests seemed harmless at first, but you soon discovered that you were being left out of office social events, denied promotions and when it came time to lay people off, you were the first to lose your job.
“We need some new blood around here, and to give our office a fresher face. Don’t take it personally,” your boss said. And that’s when it hit you that you lost your job because of your age.
The truth is, this kind of discrimination — on the basis of age — is unlawful when the discrimination happens to a worker who is 40 years of age or older. Under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), employees who have lost their jobs or suffered other kinds of unfair treatment at work may have the ability to pursue a claim for damages in court.
If successfully navigated, a federal age discrimination lawsuit could help a worker get his or her job back. It could also help the worker recover financial compensation for lost wages, lost opportunities, psychological stress and other damages that resulted from the discrimination.
The ADEA isn’t the only law that protects America’s aging workforce. The Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act is an additional piece of federal legislation that prevents discrimination against workers in the area of retirement and benefits.
Do you feel that you were hurt by age discrimination? Learn more about your legal rights and options by contacting our law firm now.
