Legal Definitions - Age Discrimination in Employment Act

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a federal law that prohibits job discrimination based on a person's age. This law is especially important for protecting individuals who are 40 years old or older from unfair and discriminatory employment decisions.

The ADEA applies to businesses with more than 20 employees and to all governmental entities. This means that employers cannot discriminate against older workers in hiring, firing, promotions, pay, or any other aspect of employment.

For example, if an employer decides not to hire a qualified candidate solely because of their age, that would be a violation of the ADEA. Similarly, if an employer offers a younger employee a promotion over an older employee who is equally qualified, that would also be a violation of the ADEA.

The ADEA is important because it helps to ensure that older workers are not unfairly pushed out of the workforce or denied opportunities for advancement simply because of their age. By protecting older workers from age discrimination, the ADEA helps to promote fairness and equality in the workplace.