Age discrimination has become the third most common discrimination claim in the United States. A law established in 1967 called the Age Discrimination Employment Act protects employees 40 years old and older from discrimination in the workplace. And while this federal law only applies to businesses with 20 employees or more, some states have laws protecting employees in businesses with as few as one employee. As a result, those who feel that they have faced discrimination in the areas of hiring, firing, promotion, benefits, pensions, and more can file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to bring relief and compensation. In 80% of cases that are mediated by the EEOC, employees can receive anything from back pay to reinstatement, and even in some cases, damages. If the problem can't be resolved there, an age discrimination lawsuit is often the next step.