Life Begins at 40, but so does Age Discrimination at Work
The average age of the American worker has been rising as the population has increased and medical care has improved. People are living longer and have more vitality at a later age now than they have ever had before. You would think that would open up more employment opportunities. Companies want older folks with years of experience, right? In some cases, that’s true. In far too many others, the situation is the opposite. Men and women are being phased out in the later years to save on salaries and pension expenses. It’s not only wrong; it’s illegal. If it’s happening to you, it’s time to call a Dallas Employment Discrimination Attorney.
They say life begins at forty. The troubled days of youth are behind us, the kids are nearly grown and gone, and new possibilities abound for us. The accumulated knowledge of half a lifetime combined with the sensible temperance of middle age make all things possible, unless you’re discriminated against and lose your job. Have you recently been laid off due to “cost-cutting” measures taken by your employer? Were any of the younger, less experienced, and lower-paid employees laid off along with you? Most of the time the pattern is clear, but those in your position feel they can’t do anything about it. That is simply not true. You’re protected and you have options.
In 1967, a law called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was passed to protect workers forty years old and older from age discrimination. It is not okay for an employer to lay off his older workers and keep the young ones because he can pay them less. That is a violation of your rights and you can sue for it. Call the office of Dallas employment discrimination attorney Dan Atkerson and schedule a consultation. We’ll tell you if you have a valid case or not and then get you what is rightfully yours.
According to ADEA and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it is illegal for any decision made on “term, condition, privilege of employment, hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, or training” to be based on age. It’s spelled out in black and white and employers are required to know it, but still age discrimination rears its ugly head in America’s workplaces. Excuses and justifications for it are more common than actions against it. Most victims of it, especially in the 40-50 year old age group, either take the lay-off and collect or look for another job.
The recent recession caused thousands of people to lose their jobs here in the metro-Dallas area. If you were one of them, examine the situation around your release. If you feel that you were the victim of an adverse action that may have been age discrimination, call Dan Atkerson at (214) 383-3606 or danatkerson@atkersonlaw.com, and he will explain what you can do to correct the situation.
