What US law prohibits age discrimination in employment?

The U.S. law that prohibits age discrimination in employment is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967.

The ADEA protects workers and applicants who are 40 or older from discrimination in hiring, firing, pay, promotion, training, layoffs, benefits, and other employment conditions. Congress enacted it after finding that arbitrary age limits were excluding capable older workers from jobs and making reemployment especially difficult.

The law applies to employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations covered by the statute. It also prohibits retaliation against people who oppose unlawful age discrimination or participate in an ADEA investigation or proceeding. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces the federal statute.

A frequent mix-up is assuming the ADEA protects every worker from age-based treatment. Federal protection generally begins at age 40; some state laws provide broader protection. Title VII addresses discrimination based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, and national origin, while the Americans with Disabilities Act addresses disability discrimination.