Los Angeles Age Discrimination Attorney

What is Age Discrimination?

Age discrimination occurs when an applicant or employee is treated less favorably because of their age. Under both California and federal law, these protections are specifically reserved for workers who are 40 years of age or older. It is illegal for an employer to use age as a motivating factor in any employment-related decision.

Discrimination can be "disparate treatment," where an employer intentionally targets older workers, or "disparate impact," where a company policy that seems neutral on the surface disproportionately harms older employees. For example, a company policy that mandates the use of specific social media platforms for internal promotion applications might unfairly disadvantage older workers who have the same qualifications but different communication habits.

At JCL Law Firm, APC, we understand that age discrimination is rarely overt. It is often buried under layers of corporate jargon and HR "restructuring." Our job is to peel back those layers and expose the truth.

Common Examples of Age Discrimination

Age discrimination can take many forms in the workplace. Some of the most common examples include:

• Hiring Bias: Employers may favor younger candidates by using coded language in job postings, such as “recent graduate” or “digital native,” to discourage older applicants.
• Wrongful Termination: Older employees may be targeted for layoffs or firings under the pretense of restructuring or performance issues, even when younger, less experienced workers are retained.
• Denial of Promotions: Qualified older employees may be overlooked for advancement opportunities in favor of younger colleagues.
• Pay Disparities: Employers may offer lower salaries or reduce benefits for older workers despite similar or greater experience.
• Harassment: Age-related jokes, comments, or insults can create a hostile work environment. Statements like “you’re too old to keep up” or “we need fresh energy” may be signs of unlawful harassment.
• Forced Retirement: Pressuring or requiring an employee to retire based solely on age is typically illegal.

If you recognize any of these situations in your workplace, it may be time to consult our Los Angeles age discrimination lawyer.

State & Federal Age Discrimination Protections

Employees in Los Angeles are fortunate to be covered by some of the most robust labor laws in the country. Your claim will likely fall under one of two major frameworks: