Congressman Morelle Acts to Protect Older Workers from Discrimination

Press Release

Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to end age discrimination in the workplace and restore essential protections for older Americans. Congressman Morelle is a co-sponsor of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act and led the debate on the House floor in favor of this legislation.

"As our population ages and Americans are working later into their lives, we must ensure that older workers have the protections, dignity, and respect they deserve," said Congressman Joe Morelle. "Instances of age discrimination, including being passed up for a promotion or forced to retire early, are far too common across the country. I was proud to take action to address this by passing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, marking an important step forward as we work to enhance quality of life for older Americans."

A 2018 survey conducted by the AARP found that 3 in 5 workers age 45 and older had seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act will restore workplace protections lost following the 2009 Supreme Court decision Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc and allow older Americans to hold employers accountable for age discrimination. This is consistent with the standard for other workplace discrimination claims based on race, religion, sex, or national origin.

The text of the legislation can be found here. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act has passed the House and will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.

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