Legal Definitions - ADEA

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a law that was created in 1967 to prevent discrimination against employees based on their age. It protects workers who are 40 years old or older from being treated unfairly because of their age. The ADEA applies to all stages of employment, including hiring, promotions, pay, and termination. It is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

For example, if an employer refuses to hire someone because they are over 40, that would be a violation of the ADEA. Similarly, if an employer pays older workers less than younger workers for the same job, that would also be illegal under the ADEA.

The ADEA also prohibits mandatory retirement in most cases. This means that an employer cannot force an employee to retire just because they have reached a certain age. However, there are some exceptions for certain high-level executives.

The purpose of the ADEA is to ensure that older workers are not unfairly disadvantaged in the workplace. It promotes equal employment opportunities for workers of all ages and ensures that job performance is the most important factor in employment decisions, not age.