Vermont’s Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) protects anyone age 18 or over from being discriminated against or harassed on the basis of their age. This is one area where Vermont’s state law provides greater protection than federal law. The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act applies only to individuals age 40 or over.
Age discrimination occurs when people are treated differently in any aspect of employment such as hiring, compensation, benefits, discipline, or promotion due to their age. Also, workplace harassment based on age is a form of unlawful discrimination.
Age-based incidents of harassment, which could create a hostile work environment, can take the form of:
- Demeaning name-calling based on being young or older
- Differential treatment based on stereotypes about millennials, baby boomers, retirees, or other age groups
More information about the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act:
- Federal Statute
- EEOC “Age Discrimination”
- EEOC Regulations related to Age Discrimination under Federal Law
- EEOC “Facts about Age Discrimination”
More resources related to age and the workplace:
- Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, Reframing Aging Resources Page
- Reframing Aging Vermont - Presentation by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, 2018
If you believe you may be a victim of workplace harassment or discrimination on the basis of any legally protected category or categories, find more information: