Age Discrimination
Adverse treatment motivated by age against workers covered by California law.
In plain terms
Workers age 40 and older are protected from decisions driven by age bias—not neutral downsizing by itself, but situations where age was a substantial reason someone was targeted. Comments about retirement, “fresh blood,” or succession planning can matter alongside how younger peers were treated during layoffs or reorganizations. Employers often defend by citing performance or restructuring; juries decide whether those reasons hold up or mask bias.