What protection does the Age Discrimination in Employment Act offer?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) specifically protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination in the workplace based on age. This legislation was enacted to address concerns that older employees might face bias in hiring, promotions, discharge, and other employment-related decisions solely because of their age. The intent of the ADEA is to encourage the employment of older workers based on their experience and skills, rather than allowing age to be a factor that adversely affects their employment opportunities. The focus is primarily on safeguarding the rights of workers who are at least 40 years old, making this the correct interpretation of the protection offered by the ADEA.

The other age-related options reflect criteria that are not aligned with the legal protections granted by the ADEA, particularly since they either fall below the protected age threshold or do not specify a clear age-related protection framework.