What is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a federal law that protects individuals 40 years old and older from discrimination in the workplace. This act was put into law in 1967 and it prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their age. This means that employers cannot make decisions regarding hiring, firing, promotions or wages based on age. In Maryland, the ADEA is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC investigates claims of age discrimination and if the claim is found to be valid, they will enforce any remedies necessary to make sure the victim of the discrimination is made whole. This could include requiring the employer to pay damages to the victim of age discrimination. The ADEA also prohibits employers from requiring employees to retire at a certain age. This means that even if an employee is a certain age, they can still apply for and hold a job. In Maryland, employees can work until they are 70 years of age, unless the employer can prove that the employee is unable to perform the duties of the job. The ADEA is an important law that helps protect people over 40 years of age from discrimination in the workplace. It is important for employees to know their rights under this law and to contact the EEOC if they feel they have been discriminated against on the basis of their age.

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