Addressing Age Discrimination in California: Legal Protections for Older Workers
Age discrimination in the workplace is a serious offensive act that violates state laws. The veteran workers are entitled to the same opportunities as their coworkers. If you are facing age discrimination, take legal measures against your employer. Follow the article below as a guideline to do so.
What is age discrimination in the workplace?
When an employee gets less favorable treatment or opportunities in the workplace because of age, it is considered age discrimination against the employee in the workplace. It is strictly prohibited by state law to discriminate against workers only because he is too old or too young. The employers must abide by California employment laws to ensure similar opportunities for the aged employees of the workplace.
What are the laws that address age discrimination in California?
The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) preserves the rights of all California employees under the protected class such as race, color, origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age (over 40), ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, etc. So, you can see, all types of workplace discrimination are banned by this law against employees based on age.
The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 also prohibits age discrimination in the workplace. According to the law, no discriminatory action can be taken against employees who are 40 years old or older.
How can I stand up against age discrimination in California?
File a complaint with EEOC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission deals with age discrimination complaints in California. If you feel that your employer made you a victim of age discrimination, you can contact them for a thorough investigation. They will evaluate your complaint and then try to settle the issue on your behalf with your employer.
Attend the intake interview
When you make a complaint with the EEOC, they will review your case and all the information. You will be called by them to attend an intake interview. Then you will have to provide the necessary evidence and documentation. For proving your claim, provide as much evidence as you can including witness information. This phase of presenting documents is crucial for your case. So, be cautious and gather crucial evidence for that.
Seek legal remedies
When you face unfair treatment in the workplace, first, talk to an attorney if you are confused about laws and regulations. Then you can sue your employer and ask for legal remedies for age discrimination with the help of your lawyer. You have legal rights to get compensation for punitive damages, damages for emotional distress, etc.
Final Words
California employment laws aim to give protection to state employees against age discrimination in the workplace. You should take legal action when you face unfair treatment from your employer because of your age. You can seek shelter under these laws in case of such discrimination. Hopefully, the above discussion will be helpful for you in this regard.
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