Employees who are 40 years or older, and work for a company that has 20 or more employees, are covered under the ADEA. Cases of age discrimination are filed every month with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and there seems to be a rise in the number of ADEA cases due to the current economical crisis. When times are financially tough, many employers attempt to terminate the employment of their older employees. This is because the employer pays a higher insurance premium on older employees, and they usually have a larger salary then the younger employees in the company. This action is absolutely illegal. An employer cannot dismiss an employee based on their age alone. If you suspect you have lost your job because of age discrimination, you should file a claim with the EEOC.