Young introduces bipartisan legislation to enhance workplace discrimination protections for older Americans

Bipartisan legislation introduced on Friday by U.S. Rep. David Young (R-IA) would enhance protections to prevent workplace discrimination against elderly workers.

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, introduced by Young and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), would take steps to prevent age discrimination, enhance job security for families and hold employers accountable for unscrupulous hiring practices.

“No one in the workplace should face discrimination, and if instances occur, we must take steps to address them,” Young said. “I’m pleased to work with Ranking Member Scott on this important issue.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 2009 decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services that plaintiffs must prove that age was the sole motivating factor for the employer’s adverse decision in federal age discrimination cases.

“Discrimination shuts too many people out of good paying jobs,” Scott said. “Members of Congress must do our part to ensure that every American has a level playing field and that workers go to their jobs every day knowing that they are free from discrimination. I am happy to have Rep. Young join with me in the bipartisan, bicameral effort to protect older workers.”

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act would return to the pre-2009 threshold for burden of proof in workplace discrimination cases to ensure that seniors’ claims are fairly adjudicated.

“Too many older Americans trying to get or keep their jobs continue to face the significant barrier of age discrimination,” Joyce Rogers, the senior vice president for government affairs at AARP, said. “AARP strongly supports this bipartisan legislation and looks forward to continuing our work with Congress to protect the rights of older workers and others affected by job discrimination.”