At The Gold Law Firm P.C., our attorneys have represented men and women who have experienced the demeaning and humiliating consequences of age discrimination in the workplace. We have handled numerous age discrimination cases with excellent results, recovering damages on behalf of older employees who have suffered discrimination or harassment. In addition to providing exceptional legal representation to our Philadelphia clients, we have significant experience representing individuals improperly displaced from their employment as a result of age discrimination across the region.
Age discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee less favorably because of their age. Although discrimination based on age is illegal, employers regularly discriminate against people over 40 years old when hiring, promoting, and offering training opportunities.
Likewise, when companies implement reductions in the workforce and layoffs, quite often it is older employees and managers who are the first to be demoted and let go, despite their abilities. Older American workers often assume that they should be let go because it is the right business decision, but they often do not realize they may be victims of age discrimination.
Our legal team knows and understands the various federal, state, and local protections that may apply to a potential age discrimination claim.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) is a federal law that protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age. This law applies to employers with 20 or more employees and prohibits discrimination in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, and benefits.
At the state level, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) makes it unlawful for employers with four or more employees to discriminate against individuals aged 40 and older. The PHRA is a critical tool for older workers seeking justice within the state.
If your employer is located in the city, you are also protected by local ordinances. You can file a discrimination complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) if the discriminatory conduct took place within city limits.
Employers can be quite skillful when they want to hide discriminatory practices. Some covert but common examples of age discrimination include the following:
Age discrimination may be proved when a high percentage of older employees and managers are being let go compared with younger, less experienced employees. If you suspect you are being targeted, here is the standard timeline for pursuing justice:
Retaliation in the workplace is illegal and should be reported as soon as possible. The ADEA prohibits employers from retaliating against an individual for opposing employment practices that discriminate based on age, or for filing a charge and participating in an investigation.
If an employer creates a hostile work environment that deters an employee from reporting these actions, or if an employee is afraid to make a complaint because they fear retaliation, a qualified age discrimination attorney can step in to protect them.
If a victim experienced age discrimination, our legal team will work to recover all remedies and monetary compensation available under the law. We pursue damages for the following damages:
Under both the ADEA and the PHRA, individuals who are 40 years of age and older are protected from age-based employment discrimination.
Generally, no. The ADEA and PHRA do not protect workers under the age of 40 from age discrimination.
Deadlines vary depending on the agency. You typically have 180 days to file a complaint with the PHRC. Under the EEOC, because Pennsylvania has state laws protecting against the same discrimination, the deadline is extended to 300 days. The PCHR also requires complaints to be filed within 300 days.
Evidence can include direct age-related remarks from supervisors, policies that disproportionately target older workers, highly rated older employees being replaced by younger workers, or a statistical pattern of layoffs affecting older managers while younger staff are retained.
Our trusted Philadelphia age discrimination attorneys at The Gold Law Firm P.C. have decades of experience protecting the rights of older workers across Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. We have achieved outstanding results, including a $1.2 million settlement in an age-discrimination suit against the City of Philadelphia. We know how to determine the validity of a claim under federal and local laws and will guide you through the entire legal process. Call our Philadelphia or Pennsauken, New Jersey, office location at 215-569-1999 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
