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At Siro Smith Dickson, we are dedicated to fighting age discrimination in the workplace. Our Kansas City-based firm champions the rights of older executives, managers, and frontline workers who have faced unfair treatment due to their age. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, our attorneys are experts in employment law, specializing in cases where older workers are denied jobs, promotions, bonuses, or fair pay, as well as those involving harassment or wrongful termination based on age.
We firmly believe that older employees deserve to work and retire with dignity, on their own terms. Unfortunately, we often see corporations and management unlawfully pushing out successful older workers years before they’re ready to retire. This is frequently disguised through deceptive “reductions in force” or fraudulent “performance plans,” all to cut costs and boost profits.
Rik Siro and Eric Smith, our senior partners, are your premier resources for evaluating Kansas City age discrimination claims. Both Rik and Eric bring decades of trial and litigation experience, with a strong track record of winning age discrimination cases for our clients. You can see a selection of our successful case results for older workers here (replace with your actual link).
It is illegal for employers to discriminate against you based on your age. This protection extends to assumptions about your retirement plans. You are also legally protected against age-based harassment and cannot be retaliated against for reporting concerns about age-related mistreatment at work.
If you suspect you’ve been a victim of age discrimination, or if you have questions about your rights, don’t hesitate to contact our Kansas City age discrimination attorneys. Siro Smith Dickson PC has the extensive legal experience to help you navigate a potential lawsuit and seek the justice you deserve.
Are you over 40 and believe you’ve been unfairly treated at work due to your age? Have you experienced a wrongful termination, been denied a promotion, or received lower pay compared to younger colleagues? If you’ve heard ageist comments, jokes about your appearance, or faced a “faulty performance plan” designed to push you out, you may be a victim of age discrimination. Siro Smith Dickson is here to help.
Age discrimination occurs when an applicant or employee is treated less favorably because of their age. Both federal law and state laws in Missouri and Kansas specifically prohibit age-related bias against workers who are 40 years of age or older. This protection covers various forms of mistreatment in the terms and conditions of your employment, including:
The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a cornerstone of age discrimination law. It specifically forbids discrimination against individuals who are age 40 or older. While the ADEA primarily protects workers over 40, it’s important to note that some states may have laws extending protection to younger workers.
It’s also crucial to understand that the ADEA does not prohibit an employer from favoring an older worker over a younger one, even if both are over 40. However, discrimination can still occur when both the victim and the discriminator are over 40, or when the favored employee is also over 40, as long as the favored individual is substantially younger than the older worker.
For example, it would be illegal to prefer a 50-year-old employee for a promotion or retention in a “reduction in force” while refusing to promote or forcing out a 58-year-old employee, based on their age.
If you believe you’ve been discriminated against based on your age, it’s vital to understand your legal options. Contact an experienced age discrimination attorney today to discuss your case.
“One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing a qualified attorney who will keep you informed and put your needs first making sure that justice is served.”
Age discrimination law broadly protects employees and applicants from unfair treatment across all aspects of employment. This means it’s illegal to discriminate based on age in situations including, but not limited to:
It is specifically unlawful to harass a person because of their age. This protection is crucial for maintaining a respectful and equitable work environment.
Age harassment can manifest in various ways, such as:
While the law doesn’t prohibit minor teasing or isolated, non-serious incidents, harassment becomes illegal when it reaches a certain threshold. This occurs when the conduct is:
Crucially, the harasser can be anyone in the workplace, including:
If you believe you’ve experienced age discrimination or harassment in any work situation, it’s essential to understand your rights and seek legal guidance.
Even seemingly neutral employment policies and practices can be illegal if they disproportionately impact applicants or employees aged 40 or older. This is known as disparate impact age discrimination. An employer’s policy, even if applied to everyone, must be based on a “reasonable factor other than age” (RFOA) to be lawful if it negatively affects older workers.
Examples of such policies could include:
At Siro Smith Dickson, our Kansas City age discrimination attorneys are dedicated to upholding the principle that every employee deserves fairness and dignity throughout their career. We believe it is unacceptable and illegal to dismiss seasoned older workers after years of dedicated service, especially as they enter their peak earning years and before they are ready to retire on their own terms.
Such actions by employers can have profound and life-altering consequences for individuals and their families. If you suspect you or a loved one has been a victim of age discrimination in employment policies or practices, it is crucial to act quickly. Age discrimination claims are often subject to strict time deadlines, and swift action is necessary to preserve your legal rights and build a strong case.
Don’t let unlawful age discrimination go unchallenged. Contact our experienced age discrimination attorneys in Kansas City today for a confidential consultation about your employment situation. We are here to help you understand your rights and fight for the justice you deserve.