New York residents can find themselves needing a new job at any age. While finding employment may come easier for younger individuals who have not yet settled down, older people often have the qualities and experience that make for valuable workers. However, older parties could end up facing employment discrimination due to their ages.
Unfortunately, age discrimination is not unusual, and typically, even older job applicants may have valid claims if they are passed over for jobs. At least, that seemed to be the case until a recent ruling by an appeals court. According to a report, a man applied for a senior legal position with a company at the age of 58. Rather than hiring the man, the company went with a less experienced and younger applicant. As a result, the man moved forward with a lawsuit for age discrimination.
The company’s job description had stated that applicants should not have more than seven years of experience, which the man believed was discriminatory toward older workers. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Public Appeals ruled in a split decision that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act does not protect job applicants from employment discrimination. The man’s legal representation stated that they were disheartened that the court so narrowly interpreted the law.
Unfortunately, various interpretations of employment discrimination and other laws can substantially affect cases. Still, New York workers who believe that they have been discriminated against based on their ages do not have to feel out of hope. Discussing their cases and obtaining reliable evaluations from legal professionals may help them determine their best avenues for action.
