Whether you experience wage discrimination as a result of your religious views, sex or racial background, this mistreatment can occur for different reasons. Unfortunately, wage discrimination can affect those over the age of 40, and it is important to think about this topic if you are a middle-aged worker or an older worker.
In addition to reviewing examples of wage discrimination based on age, you should also review your options and the process of filing a complaint if you experience discrimination on a firsthand basis.
How can age discrimination affect wages?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission goes over various ways in which age discrimination could impact your wages. For example, if you are over the age of 40 and your employer pays you less due to your age, denies your pay, reassigns you to a less favorable position or refuses to give you the benefits you deserve because of your age, this is against the law. Also, employers cannot deny promotions solely because of a worker’s age.
How should you address unlawful discrimination?
If wage discrimination has affected you, various hardships could arise. You could struggle to pay bills and take care of important responsibilities. Financial stress can make it harder to perform your job duties and enjoy life. You should immediately look into your options if you suspect that illegal discrimination has occurred.
If you decide to file a complaint, you should gather as much evidence as possible. Under federal law, if you want to move forward with a charge you have 180 days to submit a claim, although some states extend this deadline. If age discrimination has affected your wages and you want to take action, make sure you carefully prepare and have confidence.
