Delgado Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Discrimination Against Older Workers

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined a bipartisan coalition in voting to pass the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bill ensures older workers have the tools to fight back against age discrimination by restoring the same legal protections against discrimination based on age as those that exist for discrimination based on race, sex, nationality, and religion.

“With more older Americans working later into their lives than before, upstate New York seniors should not face losing their jobs or long-term unemployment because of their age,” said Delgado. “I was proud to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, which amends the law to ensure older workers have the workplace protections they deserve. This legislation will help provide job security for Americans across the country, allowing them to continue providing for their families in a rapidly changing economy.”

Prior to 2009, older workers alleging age discrimination had to demonstrate that age discrimination contributed to an adverse action taken against them by an employer. This is consistent with providing other types of discrimination including discrimination based on race, sex or religion. In 2009, the Supreme Court erected a new legal barrier, requiring the employee to show that age as the sole factor contributing to an adverse action by the employer. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act restores the pre-2009 standard.