Final answer:
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) is the Act that prohibits age discrimination against employees aged 40 to 65. It covers a range of employment practices including hiring, compensation, and benefits, ensuring that older workers are not discriminated against.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Act that prohibits age discrimination against employees between the ages of 40 and 65 is called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). This law makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against individuals with respect to employment because of the individual’s age. It covers various aspects such as hiring, discharge, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. Amended over the years, the Act now also prevents mandatory retirement due to age, ensuring that older workers can remain employed based on their abilities rather than being excluded solely because of their age.
The ADEA was a significant step towards creating a fairer workplace by addressing issues such as age-specific layoffs, certain job advertisements that impose age limits or preferences, and denial of healthcare benefits to those over sixty-five years old. The protection provided by the ADEA has been crucial in promoting equality among workers of different ages and preventing age-based discrimination.