Lawmakers Introduce Legislation To Retire Age Discrimination

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced bicameral legislation called the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act that would make it easier for older workers to show that they have been victims of age discrimination.

The legislation is aimed at combating a recent Supreme Court decision, Gross v. FBL Financial, that essentially resulted in victims of age discrimination no longer being able to prove that age was a motivating factor in an adverse employment decision.

“We intend to make certain that … all older workers in this country enjoy the full protection of the law,” said Harkin.

“Preserving the Age Discrimination and Employment Act is important to ensure that the great progress we have made in widening the doors of opportunity for all Americans continues in the future. I am concerned that the [aforementioned Supreme Court decision] will allow employers to discriminate on the basis of age with impunity,” said Leahy.