Which federal act prohibits discrimination based on age?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) specifically addresses aging individuals and prohibits discrimination against employees and job applicants who are 40 years of age or older. This act was enacted to promote the employment of older workers and to make sure they are not wrongfully excluded from employment opportunities based on age-related stereotypes or biases.

The ADEA makes it illegal for employers to discriminate in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, or in other terms and conditions of employment. This is significant because it recognizes the unique challenges faced by older workers and aims to level the playing field in a work environment increasingly focused on youth.

Other options, while important in their respective areas, do not directly pertain to age discrimination. For example, the Equal Pay Act primarily focuses on pay disparity based on gender, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act addresses discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin, and the Americans with Disabilities Act targets discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Thus, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act is the correct answer as it specifically correlates to the prohibition of age-based discrimination in the workplace.