Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Considers New Rules To Better Protect Older Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/11546

On Thursday President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Jacqueline Berrien as the new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission head. If approved she’ll be taking charge at a time when age discrimination on the job appears to be on the rise. Jesse Russell reports:

Age discrimination charges were up 29 percent over 2007 in 2008 according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Commission is now considering new rules to help combat prejudices against older workers. A number of rulings by the Supreme Court has made it more difficult for older workers to find protection under age discrimination laws. One ruling in June said it is up to the worker to prove it was an issue with age that was the key factor in a lay off or demotion decision. In the past it was the burden of the employer to prove that age wasn’t a factor in such a decision. Another ruling upheld Kentucky’s retirement system that strips some benefits from workers who are over the age of 55.