Democrats’ Bill Eases Burden of Proof on Age-Discrimination Victims
Victims of age discrimination will have a lower burden of proof on their age-discrimination claims under legislation issued today by congressional Democrats.
The bill calls for employers to bear the burden of proof by showing they complied with federal age-discrimination laws. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that employees were required to prove that age was the deciding reason for termination and not one of several reasons such as salary cut backs.
The bill was introduced as increasing unemployment has been accompanied by a rise in the number of age discrimination claims filed throughout the country. According to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, about 25,000 age-discrimination claims were filed in 2008, a 30 percent increase from 2007.
The bill would overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Gross v. FBL Financial and make it easier for older workers to show they have been victims of age discrimination.
