Catherwood LibraryILR School

Despite Congress' passage in 1967 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act---enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission since 1979, some experts feel that age discrimination is becoming an increasing problem as more senior workers seek to reenter the workforce. A study on unemployed mature workers actively seeking employment conducted in 2000 by a Massachusetts State commission, underscored the difficulties faced by senior workers. As perceived increases in health insurance costs are a major reason behind employers' reluctance to hire senior workers, lowering the age requirements to qualify for Medicare coverage has been floated as a potential way to combat age discrimination.