Action Center - Ageism Awareness Hub

ACTION CENTER

Our Policy Position

AAH’s Public Policy Positions are driven by a shared goal: to make aging well a universal right, not a privilege for a select few. Explore the roadmap that shapes our policy and advocacy efforts and see how these positions align with our commitment to enhancing the lives of 40 million older adults by 2030.

Advocate for the Protect Older Job Applications Act (POJA) and the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA)

Age discrimination presents a unique obstacle for older adults. Help support two bills that could restore the original intent of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Your support can stop age discrimination for older American workers.

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Tell Congress to Help Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination

Fight Age Discrimination In the Workplace

The Urgency of an Aging Population

With a rapidly aging population, the time has come to shift the paradigm and spark a national dialogue. We must ensure that public policies reflect and address the real disparities that many older adults have faced throughout their lives—disparities that only worsen as they age.

Income Security and Workforce Support

To enable people to remain comfortably in the workforce as long as they need, we must provide stronger income security and workforce support. For many older adults, achieving financial stability requires working beyond their expected retirement or reentering the workforce.

Addressing Age Discrimination

Pervasive age discrimination creates significant barriers to employment and training opportunities for older adults. We call on policymakers to address these barriers and promote a fair and inclusive workplace for older workers.

Our Position on Older Adults in the Workforce

Below, you’ll find our key positions on how Congress and the Administration can take meaningful action to support older adults in the workplace.

To address this, Congress and the Administration must:

Update employment protection laws to help fight age discrimination in the workplace -POWADA, POJA Act
Promote retirement savings among lower and middle-income workers
Focus greater federal attention on addressing the challenges and opportunities of an aging workforce
Increase investments in job training and placement, including the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

First Name *

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[Date]

Dear [Elected Official’s Name],

As your constituent, I am writing to urge your support as either a cosponsor or a pledged "aye" vote for two critical bipartisan bills designed to protect older workers from age discrimination:

- HR 3491: Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act
- S. 1030 and HR 6581: Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA)

Personalize your message *

Support for HR 3491: Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act The POJA Act (HR 3491) would address age discrimination in hiring, helping to ensure that older workers are fairly considered for new positions. Today, three-quarters of older workers perceive age discrimination as a barrier to reemployment, and 44% of older job applicants report being asked age-related questions when applying for jobs. During the pandemic, over half of older workers faced long-term unemployment, with many forced to abandon their job search and enter early retirement. In 2019, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in *Kleber v. CareFusion Corp.* that Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protections do not extend to external job applicants, which effectively weakens protections for older individuals seeking new employment. The POJA Act would restore the original intent of ADEA, clarifying and codifying these essential protections. Support for S. 1030 and HR 6581: Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) Once in the workforce, older employees must also be safeguarded from discrimination. However, the 2009 *Gross v. FBL Financial Services* Supreme Court decision placed a higher burden of proof on age discrimination claims than on other discrimination cases, such as those based on race, sex, or national origin. This decision signaled that age discrimination could be permissible in certain situations, undermining ADEA’s protections. The POWADA bills (S. 1030 and HR 6581) would amend ADEA, along with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, to restore fair treatment for older workers. These amendments would reestablish the "mixed-motive" standard, recognizing claims where age discrimination is one of several influencing factors, and affirm that any form of admissible evidence can be used to prove these claims.

A Call for Action
Thank you for your dedication to improving the lives of older Americans. I urge you to lend your support to these essential bills to help end age discrimination and promote fairness for older workers. Please do all you can to ensure Congress passes:

-HR 3491: Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act
- S. 1030 and HR 6581: Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA)

Thank you for considering this critical step toward a more equitable workplace for all.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]