Western Massachusetts/Pittsfield
Age Discrimination Lawyer
Were you replaced at your job by a younger person?
Was a younger co-worker given preferential treatment?
Do you feel you were passed over for promotion because of your age?
In recent years, juries have taken a favorable look at workplace age discrimination claims. If you are over forty years old and feel you have been discriminated against by your employer because of your age, contact my office in Lenox, Massachusetts (near Pittsfield), to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.
Age discrimination, lawyers have found, can be demonstrated most easily if a witness will testify to a conversation in which a supervisor stated, either directly or indirectly, that age was a factor in an employment decision. A statement by a company official that "we are looking for new blood" or "we need vigorous employees to take our company in a new direction" can contribute to a case for age discrimination. However, employers seldom make an openly discriminatory statement.
To establish age discrimination, attorneys need to demonstrate that there was a concrete difference in the way two employees or employee groups were treated. The clearest and most common situation is one where an older employee is laid off and a younger one is then hired to do essentially the same job. More subtle forms of discrimination also entitle older employees to claims. If you and a younger employee perform similar tasks with equal competence, you may be able to show that the younger employee was given a better office, a newer computer, or more administrative support. If so, you may have a case for age discrimination.
The same principles apply to job discrimination against other protected classes. If you think you have been treated unfairly because of any of the following factors, you may have a claim in state or federal court:
- Gender
- Disability
- Pregnancy
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Veteran status
I base my practice in offices near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Call or e-mail me to make an appointment. I do provide a free initial consultation, and at that time I will be happy to discuss the projected legal representation in your employment law case.