Who is Protected Under Age Discrimination Laws in New York State?
What to Know and What to Do If You Think You're Being Discriminated Against
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Who is protected under age discrimination laws in New York State?
Age discrimination is the unfair treatment of an individual because of their age. It can happen in any area of life, including employment, housing, education, and public accommodations.
New York State has strong laws that protect people from age discrimination. The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) prohibits discrimination based on age in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and non-sectarian educational institutions.
Who is protected under the NYSHRL?
The NYSHRL protects people who are 18 years of age or older. It does not protect minors from age discrimination.
What types of age discrimination are prohibited under the NYSHRL?
In employment, it is illegal for an employer to:
Refuse to hire or promote someone because of their age
Fire someone because of their age
Harass someone because of their age
Retaliate against someone for complaining about age discrimination
In housing, it is illegal for a landlord to:
Refuse to rent or sell housing to someone because of their age
Charge someone a higher rent or selling price because of their age
Harass someone because of their age
Retaliate against someone for complaining about age discrimination in housing
In credit, it is illegal for a lender to:
Deny credit to someone because of their age
Charge someone a higher interest rate or give them less favorable terms because of their age
Harass someone because of their age
Retaliate against someone for complaining about age discrimination in credit
In public accommodations, it is illegal for a business or organization to:
Refuse to provide services to someone because of their age
Charge someone a higher price for services because of their age
Harass someone because of their age
Retaliate against someone for complaining about age discrimination in public accommodations
In non-sectarian educational institutions, it is illegal for a school to:
Discriminate against students or employees based on age
Harass someone because of their age
Retaliate against someone for complaining about age discrimination in a non-sectarian educational institution
What are some examples of age discrimination?
Here are some examples of age discrimination:
An employer refuses to hire a 50-year-old applicant because they are too old.
A landlord refuses to rent an apartment to a 65-year-old applicant because they are too old.
A lender refuses to give a loan to a 70-year-old applicant because they are too old.
A restaurant refuses to serve a group of elderly people because they are too old.
A school refuses to admit a student to a graduate program because they are too old.
What should I do if I think I have been discriminated against because of my age?
If you think you have been discriminated against because of your age, you have the right to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR). The DHR is a state agency that enforces the NYSHRL.
To file a complaint with the DHR, you can call them at 1-800-221-3330 or visit their website at https://dhr.ny.gov/.
The DHR will investigate your complaint and try to resolve the issue with the employer or other entity that discriminated against you. If the DHR is unable to resolve your complaint, you may be able to file a lawsuit in court.
Conclusion
Age discrimination is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on people's lives. New York State has strong laws that protect people from age discrimination. If you think you have been discriminated against because of your age, you have the right to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Information published to or by The Industry Leader will never constitute legal, financial or business advice of any kind, nor should it ever be misconstrued or relied on as such. For individualized support for yourself or your business, we strongly encourage you to seek appropriate counsel.
