In the ideal workplace, employees would be valued for their knowledge, skills, work ethic, and attitude.
Unfortunately, some employers value their employees on things the employee has no control over. Or employers treat certain employees unfairly because of personal traits they cannot change.
It is against the law for an employer to discriminate against an employee on the basis of age, race, religion, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other legally protected traits.
Let’s take a look at one of those protected traits: Age.
What Is Age Discrimination in the Federal Workplace?
Age discrimination occurs when an federal employer treats an employee unfairly because of his or her age. Some examples of age discrimination may include:
- Refusing to hire or promote a qualified employee because of his or her age
- Making jokes or inappropriate comments about an employee’s age
- Mentioning age in a job posting or other recruiting efforts (“seeking young, energetic employees”)
- Inquiring about age or graduation date in a job interview
- Pressuring an employee to retire
- Refusing to invest in training of employees over a certain age
There are many other examples of age discrimination. Sometimes, the discrimination may be subtle, and the employee may wonder if what he or she is experiencing is actually discrimination. Employees who think they may be experiencing discrimination should seek answers from an employment attorney who can take an objective look at the situation and devise a course of legal action, if appropriate.
Laws Protect Victims Of Age Discrimination
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects workers age 40 or older against age-related discrimination. For federal employees, there are specific procedures that must be followed if the employee decides to take legal action. Working with an attorney who has specific experience representing federal employees is advisable, since this is a very specific and detailed area of the law.
Free consultation: If you are a federal employee who has experienced age-related discrimination in the workplace, please call 888-351-0424 for a free consultation.