Can I be discriminated against because of age or disability?
How the answer differs across 8 jurisdictions
CanadaFull article No, your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your age or disability — both are prohibited grounds under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
AustraliaFull article Yes, age discrimination is illegal in Australia. It's unlawful to refuse someone a promotion because of their age under the Age Discrimination Act 2004.
IrelandFull article You can complain about workplace discrimination to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) within 6 months of the discriminatory act.
The Equality Act 2010 protects you from race discrimination at work. It makes it unlawful for employers to treat you unfairly because of your race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.
US FederalFull article No, your employer generally cannot force you to retire because of your age. Federal law prohibits mandatory retirement based on age for most workers aged 40 and older.
US-CaliforniaFull article No, your employer cannot discriminate against you based on your sexual orientation in California. State law explicitly prohibits such discrimination in employment.
US-New YorkFull article Yes, New York law restricts employers and housing providers from discriminating based on criminal history, with strict limits on when and how they may consider convictions.
JapanFull article Yes, it is illegal in Japan to set different hiring criteria by gender, as this violates the Equal Employment Opportunity Law and the Constitution.
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CanadaCan my employer discriminate against me because of my age or disability?AustraliaI was told I'm too old for a promotion. Is age discrimination illegal in Australia?IrelandI was discriminated against at work. Where do I complain?
UKI'm being discriminated against because of my race at work. What law protects me?US FederalCan my employer force me to retire because of my age?US-CaliforniaCan my employer discriminate against me because of my age or disability?US-New YorkDoes New York law protect me from discrimination based on criminal history?JapanIs it illegal to have different hiring criteria by gender?Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.