Which U.S. law protects workers aged 40 and older from employment discrimination because of age?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers aged 40 and older from employment discrimination because of age.

Congress enacted the law in 1967 after studies documented barriers facing older workers, including forced retirement and discriminatory hiring practices. It applies to employment decisions such as hiring, dismissal, promotion, pay, training, and benefits in covered workplaces.

The statute originally prohibited discrimination against people aged 40 to 65. Congress later removed the upper age limit, and amendments in 1986 made the protection for older workers effectively open-ended. The law does not generally protect workers under 40 from age discrimination.

The Act is often confused with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which addresses disability discrimination, and with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which covers characteristics such as race, religion, sex, and national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces the age-discrimination law.