The laws enforced by EEOC prohibit an employer from treating applicants and employees who are forty or older differently, or less favorably, because of age. These laws also protect workers who are forty or older from being harassed at work by managers, co-workers, or others in the workplace because of age.

Employees under age forty are not protected from age discrimination by the laws enforced by EEOC, although some state and local laws protect younger workers. To find out more about other laws that protect younger workers against age discrimination, check out EEOC's Other Resources page.

Finally, the laws enforced by EEOC protect you from being punished or harassed at work because you or someone you closely associate with (for example, a relative or close friend) complains about age discrimination. We call this your right to be protected from retaliation.

If you would more information after reading the frequently asked questions, see the EEOC's Age Discrimination page.