29 U.S.C. § 621 - Congressional statement of findings and purpose

• Cite as: 29 U.S.C. § 621

(a) The Congress hereby finds and declares that-

(1) in the face of rising productivity and affluence, older workers find themselves disadvantaged in their efforts to retain employment, and especially to regain employment when displaced from jobs;

(2) the setting of arbitrary age limits regardless of potential for job performance has become a common practice, and certain otherwise desirable practices may work to the disadvantage of older persons;

(3) the incidence of unemployment, especially long-term unemployment with resultant deterioration of skill, morale, and employer acceptability is, relative to the younger ages, high among older workers; their numbers are great and growing; and their employment problems grave;

(4) the existence in industries affecting commerce, of arbitrary discrimination in employment because of age, burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce.

(b) It is therefore the purpose of this chapter to promote employment of older persons based on their ability rather than age; to prohibit arbitrary age discrimination in employment; to help employers and workers find ways of meeting problems arising from the impact of age on employment.

Cite as 29 U.S.C. § 621

Source: Pub. L. 90-202 §2, Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 602.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/22/2023

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE; RULES AND REGULATIONS

Section 16, formerly §15, of Pub. L. 90-202, renumbered by Pub. L. 93-259, §28(b)(1), Apr. 8, 1974, 88 Stat. 74, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter] shall become effective one hundred and eighty days after enactment [Dec. 15, 1967], except (a) that the Secretary of Labor may extend the delay in effective date of any provision of this Act up to and additional ninety days thereafter if he finds that such time is necessary in permitting adjustments to the provisions hereof, and (b) that on or after the date of enactment [Dec. 15, 1967] the Secretary of Labor is authorized to issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out its provisions."

SHORT TITLE OF 1996 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, §101(a) [title I, §119], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-23, provided in part that: "This section [amending section 623 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 623 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 623 of this title] may be cited as the 'Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1996'."