Age discrimination happens when employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies treat an employee less favorably because of his or her age if the employee is at least 40 years old. It is protected by the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967 (AEDA), and other states’ regulations. The issue in an action for age discrimination is not whether employers acted with a good cause in an adverse employment decision, but whether the decision would not have been made but for a discriminatory motive.
See also Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
[Last updated in May of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]