Fired at 50+

Here's what AARP.org has to say about it....

Dear Unemployed New Yorker, Every American worker deserves fair treatment in the workplace, regardless of their age. A new bill in the Senate would help older workers fight back against discrimination – but your members of Congress need to know you're counting on them to pass it. Contact your members of Congress now to urge them to support older workers! "You're too old – and you're fired." Outrageous, right? Unfortunately, more and more older Americans are getting that message – and others like it – from their employers. No worker deserves to be ousted from their job, passed over for promotion, or denied access to training and development opportunities because they are older. But in these tough economic times, many older workers with impressive experience can't even get an interview because of their age. Right now, Congress has a chance to help change that. A new bill in the Senate would protect older workers and provide them with ways to fight back against unfair age discrimination. But the bill won't pass without a groundswell of support – will you contact your members of Congress today to ask them to stand up for older workers? All workers should be judged on their skills and abilities, not their age. But just last year, an AARP study found that nearly 2 in every 3 workers had either seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Almost 20% of those surveyed said that they weren't hired for a job due to their age and nearly 10% told us they had been laid off or fired as a result of discrimination! Meanwhile, a Supreme Court ruling has made it more difficult to prove age discrimination than it is to prove discrimination based on race, religion, or gender. Discrimination based on any part of a worker's identity is wrong and unfair. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) would help restore older workers' rights under the law – rights that were lost due to the Court's unfair ruling. The fact is that older workers have been hit particularly hard by the recession – and many Americans 50+ now need to work longer because they can't afford to retire. But the discrimination that older workers face in the job market often keeps people from the work they need. It's one of the main reasons it takes older workers almost a full year, on average, to find work. And when a worker finally does land a new job, it's often for less money, which can have a devastating impact on their ability to support their families or live independently. Vivian, passing this bill is a no-brainer – every American worker deserves to be treated fairly on the job, regardless of age. But to make sure Congress does the right thing, we need to let them know that a majority of Americans support it. Send your message today and urge your members of Congress to protect every American's right to work, no matter how old they are. With your help, we can make sure all Americans can access the financial security they deserve. Thanks for taking action at this critical time. Sincerely, Fred Griesbach AARP Campaigns AARP.ORG  |  MAKE A DONATION  |  TELL A FRIEND  |  JOIN US ON:  AARP 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049

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