ADEA is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which specifically prohibits discrimination of employees based on their age. The ADEA age is 40, meaning that the legislation is designed to protect workers over the age of 40. Specifically, the law says that employers may not fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's age. In addition, employers may not limit, segregate, or classify his employees in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual's age. Thirdly, employers may not reduce the wage rate of any employee because of age. The law has other provisions, but these three provisions make up the basis of the law. The law applies to labor organizations and government employers, too.