The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older. The ADEA is located in the United States Code, beginning at 29 U.S.C. §621.
In Minnesota, as in all states, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) provides federal protections for employees and job applicants who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor organizations. Additionally, Minnesota state law, under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), also prohibits age discrimination by employers with one or more employees, offering broader protection than the federal statute. This means that in Minnesota, even employees of smaller companies have legal recourse if they experience age discrimination in the workplace.