Age discrimination means treating a prospective or current employee in a degrading manner and finding them ineligible for the job just because of their age. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits denying rights of employment, promotion or termination to an employee or prospective employee based on the person's age. The act is primarily for individuals who are 40 and above. At the same time, it is not correct for an employer to prefer someone over 40 compared to a younger one.

Different situations actually constitute to age discrimination. In the purview of an employer, any act of discrimination like denying a job,  delaying job assignments, laying off, denying training, lack of benefits, and any other thing mentioned in the job agreement is based on age is wrong legally.

Age discrimination could also mean harassment. If an employer or co-employees remarked about a person’s age or tease them about it, it amounts to harassment. If there have been only a few incidents, then it would not mean much to file a case as age discrimination harassment. However, if it is a regular incident and an employee is being emotionally degraded about their physical abilities as being old, then it will amount to a serious case of harassment. The victimizer can be anyone and not the employer directly, but the employer is answerable for such a behavior.

Employer’s discrimination against age is taken seriously because the laws and the employers own agreement states clearly that such an act is prohibited. When an employer actively participates in age discrimination it could result in serious consequences for the company.

Age discrimination condemns an employer from favoring a person based on age. If a person has the desired qualifications as advertised by the employer or the stipulated rules, then a job or position cannot be denied to the person irrespective of their age.

Age discrimination unfortunately is carried out on several levels. Employees are denied training opportunities because the companies rather invest in a younger person. An employee cannot be passed on because of his/her age when a new and a younger employee are in line for the same job.

Age discrimination act also extends its circumference to other aspects of employment, such as racial discrimination, religion and sex as well. Even disabilities are covered through the ADEA. For example, an aged person who is an African American, or disabled, or is of another ethnic race, such as Mexican, Pakistani or Indian, cannot be discriminated. There are several subjected laws that apply to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

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