Age Discrimination

The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) prohibit discrimination against an employee or job applicant because of age. Individuals who are forty years of age or older are protected from discrimination under these laws. It is illegal for employers to refuse to hire an employee because of age or to target older employees for layoff in a reduction of force. The law also prohibits employers from treating employees over forty years of age less favorably with regard to pay, benefits or opportunities for promotion. Proving age discrimination requires evidence that the challenged employment decisions were motivated by age bias. In some cases age related comments on the part of managers or employers provide such evidence. In cases involving a reduction in force, evidence of age discrimination can be demonstrated through an analysis of the ages of the individuals selected for layoff.

If you believe that you have been the target of age discrimination in your employment, contact Frank Freed Subit & Thomas to discuss your legal claims.