According to Time magazine, 2014 was the sixth consecutive year that the number of age discrimination claims in the U.S. dropped compared to the previous year. Of course there is still age discrimination; 20,588 charges were filed in 2014 under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, but that’s down from 21,396 in 2013 and a peak of 24,582 in 2008, according to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) statistics. If you believe that you are a victim of age discrimination by a California employer, discuss your rights and options promptly with an Oakland discrimination lawyer. In some age discrimination cases, you may be able to recover damages.
In a 2012 survey conducted by the AARP, 77% of Americans between ages 45 and 54 said age discrimination is a major concern. Employers can reduce their costs by moving out older employees who receive higher wages and moving in younger employees. However, firing someone of the basis of his or her age is discrimination, and it’s against the law. When employers make large-scale layoffs as they did during the last recession, older workers may have a difficult time finding comparable work. When unemployment drops, as it has in 2014 and into 2015, fewer workers are fired, so fewer age discrimination claims are filed.
Age discrimination is more difficult to prove than other forms of employment discrimination. You’re more likely to face age discrimination in Texas (where 9.2 percent of all age discrimination claims were filed last year) or Florida (8.5 percent) than in California. Nevertheless, it is important for to remain vigilant about age discrimination in the workplace. If your rights as an older employee are unintentionally or intentionally violated by a California employer, discuss your rights and legal options at once with an experienced Oakland employment rights attorney.
