Age Discrimination

Depositphotos_153607280_XL

Age discrimination in the workplace is a serious issue and protected against by both federal and state laws for workers aged 40 and older. Both the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and California’s Fair Housing and Employment Act (FEHA) prohibit discrimination based on age in all aspects of employment, including hiring, firing, promotions, wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of work. The ADEA applies to companies with 15 or more employees, while FEHA extends protection to those working in companies with 5 or more employees. Generally, individuals have three (3) years from the date of discrimination to file a pre-complaint inquiry in California.

To prove age discrimination, an employee must demonstrate that they are over 40, qualified for their job, subjected to discriminatory conduct, and that younger employees were not treated similarly. The process often involves filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). While employers may attempt to justify their actions with reasons like downsizing, poor performance, or company reorganization, an experienced age discrimination attorney can help gather direct, indirect, and contextual evidence to support the claim.

Age discrimination is sometimes difficult to identify. Examples of age discrimination include illegal early retirement deals, replacing older workers with younger ones without legitimate business reasons, unfair wage determinations, and inequality in job benefits. The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) further requires employers to treat older and younger employees equally in terms of benefits. It’s important to note that age discrimination can be subtle and often disguised as other business decisions.

Victims of age discrimination may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including back pay, future lost earnings, job reinstatement, pay differentials from missed promotions or raises, benefits, and damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering. Additionally, both federal and state laws protect employees from retaliation for filing age discrimination complaints or participating in related court proceedings.

If you or someone you know is suffering age discrimination in the workplace, contact us immediately.

We protect your rights!

en_USEnglish

Request a Free Consultation

Associate

Christine Reyes

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Christine Reyes is an Associate Attorney with PLG. Ms. Reyes represents employees in a wide range of employment matters, including wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. With a strong legal background, Ms. Reyes previously represented plaintiffs in personal and catastrophic injury cases, gaining valuable experience that has shaped her approach in advocating for employees facing workplace injustices.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Reyes worked as a personal injury paralegal and legal assistant, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the litigation process from intake to trial preparation, to resolution. This experience gave Ms. Reyes a unique perspective on case management, strategy, and helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system. Ms. Reyes provides effective, compassionate representation and is committed to fighting for the rights of employees.

Ms. Reyes attended the University of California, Santa Cruz and earned her law degree from Santa Clara University, School of Law. Ms. Reyes is licensed to practice law in all California State Courts and in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California. Ms. Reyes is fluent in Spanish.

Associate

SUSAN HUERTA

La abogada Huerta es abogada litigante en Protección En Acción. Licenciada como abogada desde 2008, tiene más de 16 años de experiencia legal lidiando con litigios laborales altamente complejos, demandas colectivas, y derechos civiles. Sirviendo a clientes en todo California, la abogada Huerta ha logrado un éxito significativo luchando por los derechos de los empleados que han sufrido graves violaciones de sus derechos, incluyendo discriminación, acoso, disputas de salarios y horas, despido injustificado y más. Una abogada altamente compasiva y agradable, la abogada Huerta realmente se preocupa por los problemas que enfrentan sus clientes y se ha ganado la reputación de ser una defensora incansable que persigue agresivamente los resultados más favorables en nombre de sus clientes. También comprende el estrés y la ansiedad que sienten sus clientes con respecto a sus situaciones, y brinda asesoramiento y apoyo dedicados y efectivos con el mayor cuidado y respeto para ayudarlos a obtener la justicia que merecen. Habla español con fluidez y puede comunicarse directamente con muchas personas que pueden tener dificultades para hablar inglés.

En 2020, la abogada Huerta fue seleccionada como Super Lawyers Rising Star. Ella practica en las áreas de Derecho Laboral y de Empleo, incluyendo Demandas Colectivas, Despido Injustificado, Discriminación, Acoso Sexual / Agresión Sexual, Contratación y Supervisión Negligente y Derechos Civiles. La abogada Huerta está autorizada para ejercer la abogacía en California, en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Central y Norte de California y en el Tribunal de Apelaciones de los Estados Unidos para el 9º Circuito.

En su tiempo libre, la abogada Huerta brinda asistencia legal gratuita a mujeres maltratadas y niños inmigrantes no acompañados.

Associate

JEFFREY JIMENEZ

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is a Junior Associate Attorney at Protection in Action. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is dedicated to ensuring that employee rights are protected in the workplace, specifically in collective and representative wage and hour actions. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez has experience in other employment matters, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination cases. Before joining full time, he worked as a paralegal for Proteccion En Acción along with several other public organizations and private law firms in employment law, special education law, and immigration law.

Mr. Jiménez attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and received his PhD from Southwestern School of Law.

General Partner

CARLOS JIMENEZ

Extensive Experience and Knowledge

As a former partner and co-chair of his national class action practice group at a prominent employment defense firm, attorney Carlos Jiménez has extensive experience that he uses to benefit his clients. During his time as an employment defense attorney, Attorney Carlos Jiménez's practice focused on defending employers in California wage and hour class action lawsuits and PAGA matters, and he contributed to superior courts' efforts to streamline case management. class action lawsuit and PAGA. With this unique experience and knowledge, along with his extensive experience in state and federal courts, Attorney Carlos Jiménez is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rights of employees in the workplace.

Attorney Carlos Jiménez attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and received his Professional Doctorate from Loyola Law School. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Mr. Jiménez grew up in a blue-collar family and speaks fluent Spanish. Attorney Carlos Jiménez is admitted to practice law in all California state and federal courts and the California Court of Appeals.

Skip to content