Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for the Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021 today to protect older job seekers from hiring discrimination. The bill, H.R. 3992, would allow older job applicants to challenge possible discriminatory hiring practices under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The bill would restore protections for these applicants that were removed by two recent U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings that the ADEA applied only to older employees and not older job applicants. Also, the bill would allow older job applicants to be covered with protections outlined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964
“Age-related discrimination denies millions of Americans the right to work based on stereotypes and bias,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “Older job applicants bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to companies across New Jersey and the country. They are a valuable asset to our economy and need to be part of our workforce. I am proud to vote for this bill and I will vote for all bills that fight discrimination in America.”
Age discrimination is becoming a greater problem for job applicants. Almost half the country’s older job seekers said companies asked for age-related information on applications and during interviews. In addition, 75 percent of workers age 45 or older said such discrimination caused them to lose confidence in finding a new job. Too often, hiring managers judge older workers with false and derogatory stereotypes regarding their cognitive health, personal ambition, and time flexibility when making hiring decisions. This bill would restore the rights of all Americans to be fairly considered for jobs regardless of age.
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