Federal and state discrimination laws protect workers age 40 and older who have experienced unlawful employment practices based on their age. An employer is liable if it is discriminating or harassing workers over the age of 40. Examples of potential age discrimination claims: An airline requiring pilots to retire at the age of 60 unless they secure a flight engineer position through an applicable collective bargaining agreement. An employer that fires a 70-year-old worker-driver because he was too old for coverage under the employer’s new liability insurance policy. Supervisor’s statement to another worker that employer intended to get rid of older, slower carriers to replace them with younger, faster carriers.