There are several common manifestations or types of age discrimination. Below details the common sources of illegal discrimination based on age:
Reverse Age Discrimination
Sometimes that age discrimination at issue is against a young person and not against the older individual or worker. Proving age discrimination of this type may be difficult. Reverse age discrimination is often not covered by federal and State anti-discrimination laws and as a result in not actionable.
Age Discrimination in Employment
Workplace discrimination is the most common type of age discrimination. Many older workers suffer an age discrimination layoff, or a layoff based on age and not the pretext claim of a genuine business related need to lay off workers. Other situations may include age harassment of older workers with the illegal intent to run them out of their jobs in a forced retirement to allow younger workers to take their places at reduced salary levels.
Position Based Age Discrimination
Position based age discrimination occurs when a qualified worker is passed over for a promotion by his employer and a younger, less experienced worker is given the position instead at a lesser pay level. Proving age discrimination of this type may be almost easy especially where the older worker is often extremely familiar with the employer’s usual hiring practices and procedures as well being familiar with the qualifications of the worker eventually hired.
Housing Age Discrimination
Sometimes housing communities will cater to older individuals only as residents. This behavior is exempt under the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA).
Getting Legal Help
If you believe that you or a member of your family has suffered discrimination based on age it may be important to discuss the situation with an experienced civil rights attorney to determine if rights and interests have been violated resulting in an actionable financial loss and related emotional suffering.