Washington DC Age Discrimination Lawyer
Do you believe someone in your workplace has mistreated you because of your age? Contact a discrimination attorney in Washington DC to file an official complaint and seek justice.
When your employer or coworkers treat you differently because of your age, it can be disheartening and make work feel like a hostile environment. Whether you’re one of the older employees and you’re seen as weak or inferior because of your age or you’re a younger employee and team members automatically assume you’re inexperienced or incapable, the frustration is similar.
Washington DC protects employees of all ages from age discrimination in the workplace. If you believe someone at work has discriminated against you because of your age, you have the right to file an official complaint and attempt to hold your employer accountable for their actions. A Washington DC age discrimination lawyer from Snider & Associates, LLC can make the discrimination claims process seem less complex.
Federal Age Discrimination Laws
The primary federal law that addresses age discrimination is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). This act makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against employees forty years of age or older. It makes discrimination against these employees unlawful in areas such as hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, and privileges of employment.
Under the rules of the ADEA, it’s unlawful to discriminate against members in the forty-or-older age group, even if the person committing the discrimination is also in that age group.
District of Columbia Age Discrimination Laws
While the federal age discrimination law excludes younger employees, Washington DC makes a point of including all ages in their age discrimination laws. The DC Human Rights Act of 1977 makes it illegal to discriminate based on anything other than individual merit.
Washington DC outlines unlawful forms of discrimination in the act, which include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, and place of residence or work.
Washington DC protects workers against many types of discrimination, so it’s essential that employers treat their employees with the utmost respect and care.
How to File an Age Discrimination Claim and Seek Protection
If you’re forty years of age or older and someone has discriminated against you at work, you have the choice of whether to file your claim federally or within the Washington DC system. If you file federally, your claim will go through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
If you’re under the age of forty, you must file your claim in Washington DC, because federal law doesn’t protect younger employees against age discrimination. You can file your claim through DC’s Office of Human Rights (OHR) by filling out their intake questionnaire and submitting it online or in person at your nearest OHR office.
Once you submit your questionnaire, the OHR will schedule an intake appointment, followed by meditation and an initial investigation. If mediation fails, the OHR will fully investigate your DC age discrimination case. Once the Washington DC OHR has reviewed your case and made their decision, you’ll have the option to request an appeal if you aren’t happy with the outcome.
Consult a Washington DC Age Discrimination Attorney
Regardless of whether you file your complaint with the federal government or within DC’s Human Rights Office, having an employment attorney by your side who’s familiar with the claims process can be beneficial. If you’re ready to discuss your case with a Washington DC age discrimination lawyer from Snider & Associates, LLC, fill out the contact form below or call 410-653-9060 to schedule a consultation.