Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Key Considerations

Summary

This practice note addresses the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), a cornerstone federal employment statute that prohibits discrimination against individuals age forty and older in hiring, employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment. While the ADEA has been in effect for decades, age discrimination remains a significant source of litigation and enforcement activity, particularly as the workforce ages, retirement timelines shift, and employers navigate workforce restructuring, technological change, and cost pressures.