California Age Discrimination Attorney

Age discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee or job applicant less favorably because they are age 40 or older.

While many people associate age discrimination with termination, it can happen at nearly every stage of employment—from hiring decisions to promotions, compensation, job assignments, performance evaluations, layoffs, and retirement discussions.

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) both prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on age in many workplace situations.

Because employers rarely admit that age motivated their decisions, these cases often involve examining patterns of behavior, company policies, performance records, and other evidence to determine whether unlawful discrimination occurred.

Age discrimination isn't always obvious. It often develops gradually and may be disguised as a business decision or performance concern.

Examples of age discrimination may include:

• Being fired or laid off while substantially younger employees remain employed
• Being passed over for promotions in favor of less qualified younger employees
• Pressure from supervisors to retire earlier than planned
• Receiving unexplained negative performance reviews after years of positive evaluations
• Age-related jokes, comments, or repeated remarks about retirement
• Being excluded from training opportunities or important projects
• Having your responsibilities reduced because of assumptions about your abilities
• Being denied employment because an employer believes you're "overqualified"
• Receiving lower pay or fewer benefits because of your age

If several of these situations sound familiar, it's worth speaking with an experienced employment attorney about your legal rights.

California provides some of the strongest workplace protections in the country for employees who are 40 years of age or older.

Both the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibit covered employers from making employment decisions based on age rather than an employee's qualifications or job performance.

Employers cannot lawfully discriminate because of age when making decisions involving:

• Hiring
• Firing
• Promotions
• Compensation
• Benefits
• Job assignments
• Training opportunities
• Discipline
• Layoffs
• Retirement

Not every negative employment decision is unlawful, but when age becomes a motivating factor, employees may have grounds for a legal claim.

If you suspect you've experienced age discrimination, taking the right steps early can make an important difference.

Consider:

• Saving emails, performance reviews, and written communications.
• Documenting discriminatory comments or incidents, including dates and witnesses.
• Keeping copies of employment agreements and personnel records when legally available.
• Avoiding deleting text messages or emails related to your employment.
• Speaking with an experienced employment attorney before signing a severance agreement or other legal documents.

Every situation is unique, and obtaining legal guidance early can help you understand your options.

Age discrimination cases often require proving an employer's true motivation for its actions.

Our firm carefully investigates each case by reviewing employment records, personnel files, performance evaluations, company policies, witness statements, and other available evidence to determine whether unlawful discrimination occurred.

If appropriate, we pursue compensation and other legal remedies available under California employment law while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process.

We understand how stressful workplace disputes can be, and we're committed to providing personalized representation focused on achieving the best possible outcome for every client.

Employees throughout California have trusted The Kaufman Law Firm since 1993 because we focus on protecting workplace rights with experienced, personalized representation.

When you work with our firm, you can expect:

• Personalized attention throughout your case
• Thorough investigation of your claims
• Clear communication about your legal options
• Aggressive advocacy when employers violate the law
• Free case evaluations