Collins cosponsors bipartisan bill to improve federal age discrimination workplace claims

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who serves on the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, recently introduced bipartisan legislation to clarify the appropriate standards for making federal employment age discrimination and retaliation claims.

“I encourage our colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, which would help to end workplace discrimination for seniors throughout the country,” Sen. Collins said. 

Sen. Collins on March 22 signed on as an original cosponsor of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, S. 880, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) to restore protections in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) that would make it easier for employees to prove when they are a victim of age discrimination in the workplace.

In 2009, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Gross v. FBL Financial Services weakened the ADEA by imposing a higher burden of proof on workers alleging age discrimination than is required of workers alleging other forms of workplace discrimination, according to Sen. Collins’ office. 

“Older employees bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the workplace.  Individuals who are willing and able to remain in the workforce longer can also improve their retirement security for their golden years,” Sen. Collins said. “We should do all we can to ensure that these employees are not faced with age-related bias while doing their jobs.”

AARP has endorsed S. 880, which has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.