Fighting Age Discrimination at your Job in Minneapolis

While convention suggests that age must equate with experience, the sad truth of the current market for jobs in Minneapolis is that many employers choose against hiring an individual or promoting him or her due to his or her age. Even though age discrimination is illegal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the violation of this act through employment decisions is quite prevalent in Minneapolis and other cities across the United States. 

Understanding ADEA 

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 forbids businesses from discriminating against job candidates and current employees on the basis of their age. Under this law, employees and job seekers over the age of 40 are protected from such violations. 

If the business consists of over 20 workers, it must comply with this law which is enforced under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 

Getting Protected under the ADEA 

As per the EEOC, the ADEA makes it illegal for any recruiter to make any decisions pertaining to an individual’s employment based on his or her age. Here is how an employee or job seeker is protected under this act – 

1.      A recruiter cannot make hiring decisions based on age.

2.      An employer cannot advertise for a job with age as a criterion.

3.      An employer cannot fire his employee because of his age.

4.    A recruiter cannot segregate or classify employees in a way that it will negatively affect the employee’s status of hold him back from professional progress.

5.      Age cannot be a determinate of pay.

6.      Benefits cannot be denied to an employee because of his or her age. In some cases however, the employer can reduce benefits of older workers if the cost of providing those reduced benefits are equal to those being provided to younger workers.

If you find that a particular Minneapolis Jobs is not abiding by the ADEA, you can contact the EEOC and file a charge of age discrimination. 

In spite of this act being passed almost 50 years ago, the EEOC receives about 23,000 complaints each year. Recruiters and job seekers need to work together to create a more conducive work environment for people of all ages.