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How Much Do You Know About Age Discrimination Law?

Take this quiz and find out

AARP Staff

En español

Published April 14, 2021

8 Questions

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How Much Do You Know About Age Discrimination Law?

[ {
  "question" : "True or false? The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protects workers 40 and older from personnel decisions based on age, including hiring, firing, layoffs, promotions or demotions.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The act applies to employers with at least 20 workers. It does not protect independent contractors or military personnel.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What federal agency investigates age discrimination claims?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Consumer Financial Protection Bureau",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Federal Communications Commission",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Federal Bureau of Investigation",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Equal Employment Opportunity Commission",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The EEOC also runs outreach and education programs designed to prevent discrimination.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which one of these is NOT a protected class under federal workplace antidiscrimination laws enforced by the EEOC?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "National origin",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Genetic information",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "People who complain about discrimination",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "None of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Other protected classes include age, race, color, religion, sex and disability.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? The deadline to file an age discrimination claim is generally within 180 days from the date the suspected discrimination took place.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The 180-day deadline may be extended to 300 days if your state or local agency enforces a state or local law that prohibits age discrimination.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "If you see employers do this, it’s likely illegal:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Mention in job ads that they want to hire young workers",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Force workers to retire at a certain age",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Fire older workers for performance issues",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Both A and B",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "According to the ADEA, employers are generally prohibited from mentioning age in job advertisements and recruitment materials.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "According to AARP research published in 2018, this percentage of older workers who have seen or experienced age discrimination firsthand believe it is common.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "48 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "67 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "79 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "91 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Of the group, 53 percent say it is somewhat common and 38 percent say it is very common.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? The number of total charges of workplace discrimination of any type filed with the EEOC increased every year between the 2015 and 2020 fiscal years.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Charges hit 91,503 in fiscal year 2016, but they fell to 67,448 by fiscal 2020.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "In a 2009 ruling, the Supreme Court said older workers had to prove age was this factor in an employer’s decision to fire or discipline them.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "One of several factors",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The only factor",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The decisive factor",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "A small factor",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The ruling was a much higher standard than had been required since ADEA was enacted in 1967.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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