What is the primary purpose of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)?

The primary purpose of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is to prevent age discrimination in employment. This federal law was enacted to protect individuals who are 40 years of age and older from discrimination in hiring, promotions, discharge, compensation, or terms, conditions, and privileges of employment based solely on their age. The ADEA aims to ensure equal employment opportunities for older workers by prohibiting employment practices that disproportionately disadvantage them because of their age.

While promoting workplace diversity, requiring equal pay for equal work, and enhancing employee training programs are all important aspects of human resource management and workplace policy, they do not specifically address age discrimination. The ADEA specifically focuses on creating a fair and equitable work environment for older employees, emphasizing that talent and qualifications should be the sole criteria for hiring and employment practices, rather than age.