WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), former and current chairman, respectively, of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA). POWADA would level the playing field for older workers and restore safeguards against age-based discrimination. The bill would reestablish critical protections in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and make it easier for employees to prove when they are a victim of age discrimination in the workplace. Following a 2009 Supreme Court decision that ruled against Iowan Jack Gross, older workers are currently required to meet a significantly higher burden of proof when alleging age discrimination than is required of workers alleging other forms of workplace discrimination.
 
“Older Americans offer tremendous value to our society and our economy and they deserve the protections Congress originally intended,” Grassley said. “The decision in the case of Iowan Jack Gross has had a major impact on employment discrimination litigation across the country.  It’s long past time we clarify the intent of Congress to make sure people like Mr. Gross don’t face discrimination due to age.”
 
“After fighting in our wars, teaching our children, and building our Nation, older Americans deserve to age with dignity. We owe it to the generations who came before us to support them into their golden years,” Casey said. “As we build a better economy, we must ensure older Americans are given the support and protection they need to be economically secure.”
 
The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is cosponsored by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
 
The full text of the bill is available HERE.

 

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