Which law prohibits employment discrimination based on age for individuals 40 years and older?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is the law that specifically addresses employment discrimination based on age, focusing on individuals who are 40 years of age and older. This legislation aims to protect older workers from discrimination in hiring, firing, promotions, and other employment-related decisions based solely on age.

The ADEA was enacted to combat stereotypes and biases that older workers face in the labor market, recognizing that age should not be a criterion for making employment decisions. The act provides legal recourse for individuals who believe they have been subjected to age discrimination and allows them to seek remedies, including reinstatement, wages, and damages.

In contrast, the other laws listed do not focus on age discrimination. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) centers on the right to take leave for certain family and medical conditions, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mainly governs minimum wage and overtime pay, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protections against discrimination based on disability rather than age. Thus, the ADEA is the correct answer, as it directly addresses the issue of age discrimination in the workplace for older adults.