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 Virginia, 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 on the basis of age 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. Virginia does not have a separate state statute that specifically addresses age discrimination; therefore, the federal ADEA is the primary law governing age discrimination in the workplace for Virginians. Employees in Virginia who believe they have been subjected to age discrimination may file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces the ADEA.