Dan A. Atkerson is an age discrimination lawyer who has successfully represented clients in Allen, TX, that were denied promotions or benefits because of their age. After practicing for over 32 years, Mr. Aterkson has a strong understanding of employment law, and works on behalf of employees in North Texas and the surrounding areas who have been wrongfully terminated due to age discrimination in the workplace. During a free attorney consultation, he can help you understand how to protect your employee rights and to gain a financial recovery for lost wages and associated hardships.
You Deserve to Be Treated Fairly
Many potential clients come to the Law Offices of Dan A. Atkerson concerned about whether they have been terminated or treated unfairly because of their age. Workers aged 40 and older may have a claim for age discrimination depending on the facts of their case. Mr. Atkerson has worked on numerous cases on behalf of high-ranking officers, executives, managers, and hourly employees.
"I retained Dan to assist me with a age termination settlement. I can attest to the fact that he is very responsive, gives solid advice based on his years of experience and is aggressive in quickly settling the matter. I wouldn't hesitate to hire Dan again if I needed his service." Billy D.More Testimonials
State and Federal Laws
While laws do prevent employers from hiring individuals who are too young to work, age discrimination involves employees or applicants who are over the age of 40. Just like other examples of workplace discrimination, both Texas and federal discrimination laws prohibit companies from considering the age of an employee or applicant when determining:
- Hiring
- Firing
- Wage or benefit calculations
- Other employment decisions
Examples of Age Discrimination
A common example of age discrimination is an employer replacing older workers with younger, possibly cheaper, labor. Sometimes, a round of layoffs will even target only older employees. However, the employer often fails to provide age data following the workforce reduction.
The Older Worker Act and other age discrimination laws protect your right to fair treatment at work.
There are cases in which the potential employee never actually worked for the employer. This might happen when the discrimination occurred during the hiring process. While age discrimination laws try to prevent these practices, many companies still discriminate against workers over 40.
Workers who file age discrimination complaints against their employer or to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may also face employer retaliation for reporting discrimination.
Our Case Results
$50,000
For age discrimination against a salesperson
$31,000
For age discrimination against an older worker
$60,000
For age discrimination against an older employee
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Congress passed many discrimination laws in the 1960s. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) applies to employers with 20 or more employees. It includes employment agencies, labor organizations and federal, state and local governments. The EEOC noted that ADEA protections apply to five specific areas:
- Apprenticeship Programs
- Job Notices and Advertisements
- Pre-employment Inquiries
- Benefits
- Waivers of ADEA Rights
We can review the specifics of your case to determine if your particular form of employment falls within the necessary categories.
Older Worker Benefit Protection Act
Another important age discrimination law is the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA). OWBPA provides several benefits to older workers laid off by their employers. The OWBPA makes it illegal:
- For employers to target only older employees when downsizing staff
- To provide different benefits to employees based on their age
It also requires companies to follow certain protocols and timelines when having older employees waive their right to sue in age discrimination claims.
In fact, employers that violate the OWBPA may lose this age discrimination lawsuit protection when having older workers sign releases of their rights during terminations, staff-cutting measures, for early retirement, and potentially other departure or severance agreements.
" Dan is a professional lawyer who knows his job. He spent a considerable amount of time, and was very supportive for my wrongful termination and discrimination case. I was disappointed with my company's bullying and discrimination, his help was a remedy for me." Arian H.More Testimonials
Trust an Attorney to Handle Your Case
The Older Worker Act and other age discrimination laws protect your right to fair treatment at work. If you are over the age of 40 and your employer asks you to sign releases for an involuntary or voluntary exit, hold off if you can. Have our law firm review this agreement to make sure the document is fair to you. Please send us a message or call us at (214) 383-3606 to schedule a consultation.
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