What Getting Older Means
Getting older is inevitable, there’s nothing we can do about it. This can be a major concern if you are an older worker who hasn’t planned for retirement. Although most of us want to retire at an early age and enjoy the rest of our later years without ever working another day, the truth is, this isn’t the reality for many older people.
With the average life span continuing to grow, the age to start retiring keeps getting pushed back further and further. With more and more people working into their 60’s and 70’s, it is important to be aware of trends in the workplace that directly impact older employees. Below, we talk about statistics regarding age discrimination in the workplace.
How Does Age Discrimination Happen?
Employers often discriminate against older employees because they believe the production of the business operation will decrease as the workers age. Because of this assumption, companies sometimes try to find reasons to fire employees who are older than other workers.
How are You Protected?
If you are an employee over the age of 40, you are protected under the Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA) from being fired because of your age. Despite this law, employers still continue to discriminate against their older workers. When this occurs, an employee has the right to file a wrongful termination claim based on age discrimination
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 18,376 complaints for age discrimination in 2017. This actually marks the first time since 2007 that the agency received less than 20,000 complaints. Only 2,954 of the complaints received by the EEOC had a favorable outcome for the complaining party. Employees with successful complaints in 2017 received a combined total of $90.1 million in benefits.
These statistics show that age discrimination is a prevalent issue in Northern California and the rest of the country. Older employees who face discrimination because of their age can find it difficult to find gainful employment after being fired. The statistics also show that employees are able to secure substantial financial compensation if they hold their employer accountable for their actions.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer!
However, asserting your labor rights is not an easy process, which is why you should hire an experienced lawyer if you have faced age discrimination at work. An attorney who is familiar with employment law can help you prove the validity of your discrimination claim and secure you the compensation you are entitled to.
Call (888) 796-4010 to speak with our Hollister employment law lawyer. We offer free case consultations!