Protecting Older Workers

Against Discrimination Act

Massachusetts Public
Opinion Report

Research Conducted by
GS Strategy Group

June2012

Protecting Older Workers

Against Discrimination Act
Massachusetts Public Opinion Report
Research Conducted by
GS Strategy Group

Copyright2012
AARP
Research&StrategicAnalysis
601EStreet,NW
Washington,DC20049
www.aarp.org/research
Reprintingwithpermissiononly

AboutUs

AARP

AARPisanonprofit,nonpartisanorganizationwithamembershipthathelpspeople50+
haveindependence,choiceandcontrolinwaysthatarebeneficialandaffordabletothem
andsocietyasawhole.AARPdoesnotendorsecandidatesforpublicofficeormake
contributionstoeitherpoliticalcampaignsorcandidates.WeproduceAARPTheMagazine,
thedefinitivevoicefor50+Americansandtheworld'slargestcirculationmagazinewith
over35.1millionreaders;AARPBulletin,thegotonewssourceforAARP'smillionsof
membersandAmericans50+;AARPVIVA,theonlybilingualU.S.publicationdedicated
exclusivelytothe50+Hispaniccommunity;andourwebsite,AARP.org.AARPFoundation
isanaffiliatedcharitythatprovidessecurity,protection,andempowermenttoolder
personsinneedwithsupportfromthousandsofvolunteers,donors,andsponsors.We
havestaffedofficesinall50states,theDistrictofColumbia,PuertoRico,andtheU.S.
VirginIslands.

GSStrategyGroup

GSSGhelpscorporationsandmembershiporganizationsproactivelymanagereputationsto
stayinstepwithpublicopinionandvoterbehaviorandastepaheadofthepublicpolicy
curve.Weaccomplishthisthroughcarefulamassingandanalysisofsurveyresearchand
disciplinedapplicationoftheresults.

Ledbysomeofthecountry'smostexperiencedcorporateandpoliticalstrategists,GSSG
providesitsclientswithasophisticatedunderstandingoftheforcesdrivingpublicopinion
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Methodology

AARPcommissionedGSStrategyGroupofBoise,IDtoconductthisresearch.Surveydata
wasconductedviatelephoneMay1420,2012amongarandomsampleof400registered
votersage50andoverstratifiedbygeographytobeproportionaltoCensus2010datafor
thoseage50+acrossMassachusetts.Themarginoferrorforasampleof400randomly
selectedrespondentsis+/4.9percentagepointsatthe95%confidencelevel.Allinquiries
aboutthisreportshouldbedirectedtoAARPMediaRelationsat(202)4342560.

Massachusetts,3

ProtectingOlderWorkersAgainstDiscriminationAct

MassachusettsPublicOpinionReport
June2012
KeySurveyFindings
OveronefourthofolderMassachusettsvotersreportthattheyorsomeonetheyknow
hasexperiencedagediscriminationintheworkplace.
Roughly3in4olderMassachusettsvoterssay:

ItisimportantforCongresstotakeactionandrestoreworkplaceprotections
againstagediscrimination(76%).
Acrosspartyandideologicallines,theysupporttheProtectingOlder
WorkersAgainstDiscriminationAct(POWADA)(76%).

Sincethemid1980s,olderworkershavebeenworkinglonger.Thedeclineoftraditionalpensions,
inadequatesavings,andnowthelossesinjobsandwealthduetotheGreatRecessionmeanthat
millionsofolderAmericansfaceafutureofeconomicinsecurityunlesstheyareabletowork.The
unemploymentrateforolderworkershassoaredinrecentyears,andonceoutofwork,older
jobseekersexperiencefarlongerspellsofunemploymentwelloverayear,onaveragethantheir
youngercounterparts.Agediscriminationisoneofthesignificantreasonswhyittakessomuch
longerforolderjobseekerstobecomereemployed.Itcanalsoposebarrierstothosewhowantto
stayemployedoradvanceintheirjobs.

In2009,theUSSupremeCourtchangedtherulesanddecidedthatworkerswhoasserttheywere
discriminatedagainstbecauseoftheiragewouldhavetodomorethanprovethatagewasonefactor
behindhowtheyweretreated,whichhadbeenthelawforeveryonefordecades.Unliketherules
thatapplytoworkerswhohavebeendiscriminatedagainstduetorace,sex,nationality,andreligion,
olderworkersmustnowprovethatagewasthedecisivefactor,makingitfarmoredifficulttoprove
theircase.Abipartisangroupoflawmakershasintroducedlegislation,theProtectingOlderWorkers
AgainstAgeDiscriminationAct(POWADA),torestorethepreviouslegalrulesandprotectionsthat
existedbeforethe2009decision.

Todeterminepublicviewsonolderworkers,agediscrimination,andtheProtectingOlderWorkers
AgainstAgeDiscriminationAct(POWADA),AARPcommissionedGSStrategyGrouptoconducta
statewidesurveyinMassachusetts.ThesurveywasconductedbytelephonefromMay14through
May20,2012,witharandomsampleof400registeredvotersage50andover,stratifiedby
geographytobeproportionaltoCensus2010dataforthoseage50+acrossMassachusetts.The
marginoferrorforasampleof400randomlyselectedrespondentsis+/4.9percentagepointsatthe
95%confidencelevel.ThefullannotatedquestionnaireappearsintheAppendix.

Massachusetts,4

Finding:HighCostofLiving,MakingEndsMeet,andSavingforRetirement
RequireAmericans50+toWorkLonger

Ninetytwopercentofrespondentsagreethatthehighcostofgas,healthcare,food,and
housingrequiresmanyAmericanstoworklongerinordertorebuildtheirretirementsavings,
with69%stronglyagreeing(figure1).Furthermore,90%agreethatolderAmericansare
puttingoffretirementeithertomakeendsmeetortosavemoneyforretirement(figure1).

Figure1 MostAgreeAmericans50+AreHavingtoPostpone
Retirement,WorkLonger.

Thehighcostofgas,healthcare,foodandhousingrequires
manyAmericanstoworklongerinordertorebuild
retirementsavings.

Strongly
69%

Agree
Disagree

Somewhat
23%

92%

5%

OlderAmericansareputtingofftheirretirementsinorder
toworklongertomakeendsmeetorsavemoneyfor
retirement.

Strongly
67%

Agree
Disagree

Somewhat
23%

90%

3%
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Finding:RoughlyTwothirdsofNonRetireesAreNotYetAbleorUnsureofTheir
AbilitytoRetire(67%);22%ofRetireesMayNeedtoReturntoWork

Only30%ofnonretireessaytheyhaveorareclosetohavingenoughtoretirecomfortably.
Sixtysevenpercent(67%)saytheywillhavetoworkforanumberofyearsmoreorareunsure
whentheywillbeabletoretire(figure2).Amongretirees,22%saythattheymayneedto
returntowork.

Figure2Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourcurrentfinancialsituation?
NonRetirees
Youhaveorareclosetohavingenoughtoretirecomfortably.
Youhavetoworkforanumberofyearstosaveenoughtoretire
comfortably.
Youareunsurewhenyouwillbeabletoretire.

30%
44%
23%

Retirees
Youhavealreadyretiredbutmayneedtoreturntowork.
Yousavedenoughpriortoretirementtolivecomfortably.

22%
61%

Massachusetts,5

Finding:ThreefourthsAreConcernedAgeCouldBeanObstacletoFindingWork

Seventyfourpercentofrespondentsareconcernedthattheiragewouldbeanobstacleto
findingworkiftheyhadtofindanewjobinthecurrenteconomicclimate.Infact,48%saythey
areveryconcerned(figure3).
Figure3Ifyouhadtofindanewjobinthecurrent
economicclimate,howconcernedareyouthatyour
agewouldbeanobstacletofindingwork?
Very

48%

Somewhat

26%

NotToo

14%

NotatAll

11%

Finding:OverHalfThinkPeopleAge50andOlderFaceAgeDiscriminationinthe
Workplace;29%SayTheyorSomeoneTheyKnowHasExperiencedAge
Discrimination

AgediscriminationisanissueofconcernforMassachusettsvoters50andover.Fiftytwo
percentofrespondentsthinkthatpeopleoverage50faceagediscriminationintheworkplace.
Moreover,29%reporteithertheypersonallyfacedagediscriminationinthelastfouryears,or
knowsomeonewhohas,with5%oftotalrespondentshavingpersonallyexperiencedage
discrimination(figure4).

Figure4ExperiencewithAgeDiscrimination
Inthelastfouryears,haveyouorhasanyoneyou
Basedonwhatyouhaveseenorexperienced,
knowfacedagediscriminationintheworkplace,such
doyouthinkpeopleovertheageof50faceage
asrefusaltohire,reducedcompensation,orlimita
discriminationtodayintheworkplace?
tionsimposedbyanemployer?
Yes

52%

No

20%

Self

5%

Unsure

27%

CoWorker

4%

YES

Family/Friend
MorethanOne
NO

29%

15%
6%
64%

Massachusetts,6

Finding:OlderMassachusettsVotersFeelStronglyThatAgeDiscrimination
ShouldBeTreatedonParwithOtherFormsofJobDiscrimination

Ninein10respondents(92%)saythatcompetentworkersshouldbeabletostayonthejob
regardlessoftheirage.Accordingly,83%agreethatolderAmericansshouldbeprotectedfrom
agediscriminationjustastheyareprotectedfromotherformsofdiscrimination,includinga
64%majorityofrespondentswhostronglyagree(figure5).

Figure5 EqualTreatment

OlderAmericansshouldbeprotectedfromagediscrimina
tionjustliketheyareprotectedfromdiscriminationonthe
basisofrace,sex,nationalorigin,orreligion.

Strongly
64%

Agree
Disagree

Somewhat
19%
83%

13%

Competentworkersshouldbeabletostayonthejobre
gardlessoftheirage.

Strongly
73%

Agree
Disagree

Somewhat
19% 92%

5%
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Finding:About9in10ThinkCongressHasaRole,NeedstoDoMoretoEnsure
EqualJobOpportunityforAmericansAge50+

Aboutninein10(88%)agreethatCongressneedstodomoretoensurethatpeopleover50
continuetohaveequalopportunityintheworkplace,with64%stronglyagreeing(figure6).

Figure6 CongressNeedstoDoMore
Congressneedstodomoretoensurepeopleover50
continuetohaveequalopportunitytoworkforaslongas
theywantorneedtoregardlessoftheirage.

Strongly
64%

Agree
Disagree

Somewhat
24%

88%

8%
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Massachusetts,7

Finding:50+VotersAreOverwhelminglyConcernedabouttheCourtsDecision,
MakingItTougherforOlderWorkers,andThinkItsImportantForCongressto
RestoreLegalProtectionsagainstAgeDiscrimination

Respondentswereprovidedabriefdescriptionofthe2009SupremeCourtdecisionthat
changedthelegalstandardsthatapplytoagediscrimination.The50+publicseemsto
understandtheconnectionbetweenthelegalburdenonworkerschallengingage
discriminationandemployerbehavior.Nearly8in10(79%)agreethatmakingitmoredifficult
toproveagediscriminationalsomakesiteasierforemployerstodiscriminate,e.g.,byreplacing
older,higherpaidworkerswithyounger,lowerpaidworkers.

Moreover,3in4(76%)saythattheythinkitisimportantforCongresstotakeactionand
restoretheworkplaceprotectionsolderAmericanshadagainstagediscriminationbeforethe
USSupremeCourtdecision,with49%sayingthatitisveryimportantthatCongresstakeaction
(figure7).

Figure7 CongressShouldRestoreProtections

Makingitmoredifficultforvictimsofagediscriminationto
provetheircasemakesiteasierforemployerstoreplace
olderworkerswhohavehighersalarieswithyounger
peopleatlowerwages.

Agree

Strongly
50%

Disagree

13%

Somewhat
29%

79%

HowimportantisitforCongresstotakeactionandrestore
workplaceprotectionsolderAmericanshadagainstage
discriminationbeforetheUSSupremeCourtdecision?

Not

Somewhat
27%

13%
0%

76%

Very
49%

Important

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Finding:76%FavortheProtectingOlderWorkersAgainstDiscriminationAct

RespondentswereprovidedabriefsummaryoftheProtectingOlderWorkersAgainst
DiscriminationAct(POWADA),thenaskedwhethertheyfavororopposetheact.Seventysix
percentfavorthelegislation(figure8).Evenmorestriking,55%stronglyfavorit.

Figure8 POWADAFavor/Oppose
Abipartisangroupofsenatorshasintroducedlegislationcalled
theProtectingOlderWorkersAgainstDiscriminationAct.This
legislationwouldreinstatethecivilrightsprotectionsforolder
AmericansthatwerelimitedfollowingtheUSSupremeCourts
decisionin2009.Passingthelegislationwouldrestoreforolder
workersthesameworkplaceprotectionsunderthelawas
peoplewhohavebeendiscriminatedagainstbecauseoftheir
race,gender,religion,andnationalorigin.Knowingthis,would
youfavororopposethislegislation?

100%

76%

80%
60%

Somewhat21%

40%
20%

Strongly55%
4%

0%

Favor

Oppose
Massachusetts,8

Finding:SupportforPOWADACrossesIdeologicalandPartyLines

ThesupportforPOWADAiswidespread,crossingideologicalandpartylines(figure9).
Favorableresponsesarefoundamongamajorityofallsubgroups,withatleast4in10ofself
identifiedconservativesandindependentssayingtheystronglyfavorthebill.
Figure9POWADAFavor/Oppose
Overall

TotalFavor
Strongly
Somewhat
TotalOppose

76%
55%
21%
4%

Ideology
Lib
Mod Cons

83%
63%
20%
3%

75%
57%
18%
3%

71%
43%
28%
6%

Dem

Party
Indy

Age
GOP* 5064 65+

82%
64%
18%
4%

83%
61%
23%
3%

50%
29%
21%
8%

77%
55%
22%
2%

75%
55%
20%
5%

*Duetosmallcellsize,dataisfordirectionaluseonly.

Finding:76%WantTheirMemberofCongresstoSupportPOWADA

Atleasthalfofrespondents,againacrossideologicalandpartylines,saytheirmemberof
CongressshouldsupportlegislationlikePOWADA(figure10).
Figure10Wouldyouwantyourmember
ofCongresstosupportlegislationlikethis?
Overall

Yes
No
Don'tKnow

76%
7%
16%

Ideology
Lib
Mod Cons

85%
6%
9%

74%
4%
18%

69%
10%
18%

Dem

Party
Indy

GOP*

83%
1%
14%

79%
1%
17%

55%
24%
18%

*Duetosmallcellsize,dataisfordirectionaluseonly.

Finding:72%BelievePOWADAWillHelpOlderAmericansFindJobsandKeep
Working

RespondentswereaskedwhattheythoughttheeffectsofPOWADAwouldbe.Whenaskedto
choosebetweentwopossibleoutcomes,72%saytheythinkthatthebillwillhelpolder
Americansfindjobsandkeepworking.Only14%thinkthatitsimpactwouldmainlybejust
anothergovernmentregulationonbusinesses(figure11).
Figure11 LikelyEffectsofPOWADA
Whichofthefollowingcomesclosesttoyouropinion?
Fixingtheagediscriminationlawwillhelpolder
WillHelp
Americansfindjobsandkeepworking.
Fixingtheagediscriminationlawisjustanother
AnotherGov'tReg.
governmentregulationonbusinesses.

72%
14%
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Massachusetts,9

SurveyRespondentDemographics

Arandomsampleof400registeredvotersage50andoverwasused,stratifiedbygeographyto
beproportionaltoCensus2010dataforthoseage50+acrossMassachusetts.

Figure12RespondentDemographics
Ideology

Liberal
Moderate
Conservative

Party

33%
38%
26%
Age

5064
65+
Employed
FullTime
PartTime
NotEmployed
LookingforWork
NotLooking

Democrat
Republican
Independent

42%
19%
36%
Gender

45%
Male
55%
Female
EmploymentStatus
25%
Retired
18%
NotWorkingatAll
8%
WorkingatleastPartTime
4%
Other
2%

2%

48%
52%
68%
61%
7%
4%

Research conducted by GS Strategy Group www.gsstrategygroup.com 208.342.1545

Massachusetts,10

AppendixAnnotatedQuestionnaire

Q1.BEFOREWESTART,CANYOUPLEASETELLMEYOURCURRENTAGE?

400Total
17944.8UNDER65
4210.550To54
6716.855To59
7017.560To64
22155.365OROLDER
4511.365To69
7218.070To74
348.575To79
7017.580+

Q2.WHENTHEREISAGENERALELECTION,SUCHASFORYOURSTATE'SSENATOR
ORMEMBEROFCONGRESS,DOYOUALWAYSVOTE,ALMOSTALWAYSVOTE,VOTE
MOSTOFTHETIME,VOTESOMEOFTHETIME,HARDLYEVERVOTE,OR
NEVERVOTE?

400Total
29874.5ALWAYS
8020.0ALMOSTALWAYS
225.5MOSTOFTHETIME

Q3.IFYOUHADTOLABELYOURSELF,WOULDYOUSAYYOUAREALIBERAL,A
MODERATEORACONSERVATIVEINYOURPOLITICALBELIEFS?

400Total
13032.5LIBERAL
6416.0VeryLiberal
6616.5SomewhatLiberal
15238.0MODERATE
10225.5CONSERVATIVE
6616.5SmwhtConservative
369.0VeryConservative
164.0DK/REFUSED

Q4.WITHWHICHPOLITICALPARTYAREYOUREGISTEREDORAFFILIATED?

400Total
7619.0REPUBLICAN
16842.0DEMOCRAT
14235.5INDEPENDENT/NOPARTY
41.0OTHER
102.5DK/REFUSED

Q5.INGENERAL,HOWWOULDYOUDESCRIBEECONOMICCONDITIONSINTHECOUNTRY
TODAY?EXCELLENT,GOOD,ONLYFAIR,ORPOOR?

400Total
4812.0EXCELLENT/GOOD
61.5Excellent
4210.5Good
34686.5ONLYFAIR/POOR
15037.5OnlyFair
19649.0Poor
61.5DK/REFUSED

Q6.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"COMPETENTWORKERSSHOULDBEABLETOSTAYONTHEJOBREGARDLESSOF
THEIRAGE"

400Total
36892.0AGREE
29273.0StronglyAgree
7619.0SomewhatAgree
205.0DISAGREE
184.5SomewhatDisagree
20.5StronglyDisagree
123.0DK/REFUSED

Massachusetts,11

Q7.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"OLDERAMERICANSAREPUTTINGOFFTHEIRRETIREMENTSINORDERTOWORK
LONGERTOMAKEENDSMEETORSAVEMONEYFORRETIREMENT"

400Total
35689.0AGREE
26666.5StronglyAgree
9022.5SomewhatAgree
123.0DISAGREE
102.5SomewhatDisagree
20.5StronglyDisagree
328.0DK/REFUSED

Q8.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"CONGRESSNEEDSTODOMORETOENSUREPEOPLEOVER50CONTINUETO
HAVEEQUALOPPORTUNITYTOWORKFORASLONGASTHEYWANTORNEED
TOREGARDLESSOFTHEIRAGE"

400Total
35087.5AGREE
25664.0StronglyAgree
9423.5SomewhatAgree
307.5DISAGREE
225.5SomewhatDisagree
82.0StronglyDisagree
205.0DK/REFUSED

Q9.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"THEHIGHCOSTOFGAS,HEALTHCARE,FOODANDHOUSINGREQUIRESMANY
AMERICANSTOWORKLONGERINORDERTOREBUILDTHEIRRETIREMENT
SAVINGS"

400Total
36691.5AGREE
27669.0StronglyAgree
9022.5SomewhatAgree
205.0DISAGREE
143.5SomewhatDisagree
61.5StronglyDisagree
143.5DK/REFUSED

Q10.BASEDONWHATYOUHAVESEENOREXPERIENCED,DOYOUTHINKPEOPLEOVER
THEAGEOF50FACEAGEDISCRIMINATIONTODAYINTHEWORKPLACE?

400Total
20651.5YES
8020.0NO
10827.0UNSURE
61.5REFUSED

Q11.IFYOUHADTOFINDANEWJOBINTHECURRENTECONOMICCLIMATE,HOW
CONCERNEDAREYOUTHATYOURAGEWOULDBEANOBSTACLETOFINDINGWORK
VERYCONCERNED,SOMEWHATCONCERNED,NOTTOOCONCERNED,ORNOTATALL
CONCERNED?

400Total
29473.5CONCERNED
19248.0VeryConcerned
10225.5SomewhatConcerned
9824.5NOTCONCERNED
5614.0NotTooConcerned
4210.5NotAtAllConcerned
82.0DK/REFUSED

Massachusetts,12


Q12.INTHEPASTFOURYEARS,HAVECONCERNSABOUTBEING50OROLDEREVER
DISCOURAGEDYOUFROMLOOKINGFORAJOBORFROMLOOKINGTOCHANGE
JOBS?

400Total
7418.5YES
28671.5NO
287.0UNSURE
123.0REFUSED

Q13.THINKINGABOUTHOWYOUAREPERSONALLYTREATEDINTHEWORKPLACEORHAVE
BEENTREATEDWHENSEARCHINGFORAJOBSINCEYOUTURNED50,DOYOU
THINKYOURAGEHASGENERALLYCAUSEDTHEEMPLOYERTOTREATYOUBETTER,
WORSE,ORNODIFFERENTLYTHANOTHERWORKERS?IFYOUARENOTWORKING
ANDHAVENOTLOOKEDFORAJOB,PLEASESAYSO.

400Total
102.5BETTER
6215.5WORSE
16441.0NODIFFERENT
12030.0NOTWORKING/LOOKED
4411.0DK/REFUSED

Q14.INTHELASTFOURYEARS,HAVEYOUORHASANYONEYOUKNOWFACEDAGE
DISCRIMINATIONINTHEWORKPLACE,SUCHASREFUSALTOHIRE,REDUCED
COMPENSATION,ORLIMITATIONSIMPOSEDBYANEMPLOYER?

400Total
11428.5YES
184.5Self
164.0CoWorker
5814.5Family/Friend
225.5MoreThanOne
25463.5NO/NONE
328.0DK/REFUSED

Q15.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"MAKINGITMOREDIFFICULTFORVICTIMSOFAGEDISCRIMINATIONTOPROVE
THEIRCASEMAKESITEASIERFOREMPLOYERSTOREPLACEOLDERWORKERSWHO
HAVEHIGHERSALARIESWITHYOUNGERPEOPLEATLOWERWAGES"

400Total
31278.0AGREE
19849.5StronglyAgree
11428.5SomewhatAgree
5213.0DISAGREE
4210.5SomewhatDisagree
102.5StronglyDisagree
369.0DK/REFUSED

Q16.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"UNFAIRLYTARGETINGOLDERWORKERSCOULDINCREASECOSTSFORTAXPAYERS
BECAUSEMOREWILLNEEDTORELYONGOVERNMENTSAFETYNETSEVENTHOUGH
THEYWANTTOWORK"

400Total
29874.5AGREE
18045.0StronglyAgree
11829.5SomewhatAgree
6215.5DISAGREE
4010.0SomewhatDisagree
225.5StronglyDisagree
4010.0DK/REFUSED

Massachusetts,13


Q17.PLEASETELLMEWHETHERYOUAGREEORDISAGREEWITHTHEFOLLOWING
STATEMENTS.
"OLDERAMERICANSSHOULDBEPROTECTEDFROMAGEDISCRIMINATIONJUSTLIKE
THEYAREPROTECTEDFROMDISCRIMINATIONONTHEBASISOFRACE,SEX,
NATIONALORIGIN,ORRELIGION"

400Total
33082.5AGREE
25463.5StronglyAgree
7619.0SomewhatAgree
5213.0DISAGREE
287.0SomewhatDisagree
246.0StronglyDisagree
184.5DK/REFUSED

Q18.IN2009THESUPREMECOURTCHANGEDTHERULESANDDECIDEDTHATWORKERS
WHOCLAIMTHEYWEREDISCRIMINATEDAGAINSTBECAUSEOFTHEIRAGEWOULD
HAVETODOMORETHANPROVETHATAGEWASONEFACTORBEHINDHOWTHEY
WERETREATED,THEYWOULDHAVETOPROVETHATAGEWASTHEDECISIVE
FACTOR.INYOUROPINION,HOWIMPORTANTISITFORCONGRESSTOTAKE
ACTIONANDRESTORETHEWORKPLACEPROTECTIONSOLDERAMERICANSHAD
AGAINSTAGEDISCRIMINATIONBEFORETHEUSSUPREMECOURTDECISION
VERYIMPORTANT,SOMEWHATIMPORTANT,NOTTOOIMPORTANTORNOTATALL..

400Total
30275.5IMPORTANT
19649.0VeryImportant
10626.5SomewhatImportant
5213.0NOTIMPORTANT
307.5NotTooImportant
225.5NotAtAllImportant
4611.5DK/REFUSED

Q19.INFACT,ABIPARTISANGROUPOFSENATORSHASINTRODUCEDLEGISLATION
CALLEDTHEPROTECTINGOLDERWORKERSAGAINSTDISCRIMINATIONACT.THIS
LEGISLATIONWOULDREINSTATETHECIVILRIGHTSPROTECTIONSFOROLDER
AMERICANSTHATWERELIMITEDFOLLOWINGTHEUSSUPREMECOURT'SDECISION
IN2009.PASSINGTHISLEGISLATIONWOULDRESTOREFOROLDERWORKERSTHE
SAMEWORKPLACEPROTECTIONSUNDERTHELAWASPEOPLEWHOHAVEBEEN
DISCRIMINATEDAGAINSTBECAUSEOFTHEIRRACE,GENDER,RELIGIONAND
NATIONALITY.KNOWINGTHIS,WOULDYOUFAVOROROPPOSETHISLEGISLATION?

400Total
30476.0FAVOR
22055.0StronglyFavor
8421.0SomewhatFavor
164.0OPPOSE
61.5SomewhatOppose
102.5StronglyOppose
8020.0DK/REFUSED

Q20A.WHYDOYOUFAVORTHELEGISLATION?

304Total
9531.3PROTECTAGE50+
5116.8BLOCKDISCRIMINATION
4314.1DON'TKNOW
237.6EQUALITY
227.2FAIRNESS
144.6RIGHTTHINGTODO
123.9RESTORERIGHTS
93.0NECESSARY
82.6RESPECTFORSRS
72.3COULDAFFECTME
72.3MISCELLANEOUS
51.6GOOD/LIKE
51.6PROTECTWORKER/RGTS
31.0I/FAMILYVICTIMIZED

Massachusetts,14

Q20B.WHYDOYOUOPPOSETHELEGISLATION?

16Total
956.3DON'TKNOW
318.8MISCELLANEOUS
212.5GOV'TINTERFERENCE
16.3NOTFAIR
16.3NOTNECESSARY

Q21.WOULDYOUWANTYOURMEMBEROFCONGRESSTOSUPPORTLEGISLATION
LIKETHIS?

400Total
30275.5YES
266.5NO
6215.5DON'TKNOW
102.5REFUSED

Q22.WHICHOFTHEFOLLOWINGCOMESCLOSESTTOYOUROPINION?
1.FIXINGTHEAGEDISCRIMINATIONLAWWILLHELPOLDERAMERICANS
FINDJOBSANDKEEPWORKING.
2.FIXINGTHEAGEDISCRIMINATIONLAWISJUSTANOTHERGOVERNMENT
REGULATIONONBUSINESSES.

400Total
28671.5FIND/KEEPJOBS
5413.5GOV'TREGULATION
6015.0DK/REFUSED

Q23.AREYOUCURRENTLY:

400Total
10025.0EMPLOYED
7017.5FullTime
307.5PartTime
143.5NOTEMPLOYED
82.0LookingForWork
61.5NotLookingForWork
00.0STUDENT
82.0HOMEMAKER
27067.5RETIRED
24461.0NotWorkingAtAll
266.5WorkPartTime
82.0DK/REFUSED

Q24A.WHICHOFTHEFOLLOWINGBESTDESCRIBESYOURFINANCIALSITUATION?
1.YOUHAVEORARECLOSETOHAVINGENOUGHSAVEDTORETIRECOMFORTABLY
2.YOUHAVETOWORKFORANUMBEROFYEARSTOSAVEENOUGHTORETIRE
COMFORTABLY.
3.YOUAREUNSUREWHENYOUWILLBEABLETORETIRE.

122Total
3629.5CLOSE/HAVEENOUGH
5444.3WORK/NUMBEROFYEARS
2823.0UNSURE/ABLERETIRE
43.3DK/REFUSED

Q24B.WHICHOFTHEFOLLOWINGBESTDESCRIBESYOURFINANCIALSITUATION?
1.YOUHAVEALREADYRETIREDBUTMAYNEEDTORETURNTOWORK.
2.YOUSAVEDENOUGHPRIORTORETIREMENTTOLIVECOMFORTABLY.

270Total
6022.2RETIRED/NEEDWORK
16460.7SAVEDENOUGH/RETIRE
4617.0DK/REFUSED

Q25AREYOUCURRENTLYANAARPMEMBER?

400Total
17844.5YES
21654.0NO
61.5DK/REFUSED

Massachusetts,15


Q26.WHATISYOURTOTALANNUALCURRENTHOUSEHOLDINCOME?ISIT....

400Total
205.0LESSTHAN$15,000
4210.5$15,000$25,000
5012.5$25,001$40,000
287.0$40,000$50,000
4812.0$50,000$75,000
164.0$75,000$100,000
287.0OVER$100,000
16842.0DK/REFUSED

Q27.AREYOU,ORISANYMEMBEROFYOURIMMEDIATEFAMILY,FROMAHISPANIC
ORSPANISHSPEAKINGBACKGROUND?

400Total
184.5YES
38295.5NO/ALLOTHERRESPONSE

Q28.WHICHOFTHEFOLLOWINGETHNICGROUPSBESTDESCRIBESYOU?

400Total
35689.0WHITEORCAUCASIAN
348.5NONWHITE
184.5Latino/Hispanic/Mex
102.5Black/AfricanAmer.
41.0Asian/PacificIsland
20.5MixedRace
102.5DK/REFUSED

Q29.GENDER:

400Total
19248.0MALE
20852.0FEMALE

Q30.AREA:

400Total
102.5ALBANYM.M.
31378.3BOSTONM.M.
4711.8EssexCounty
8922.3MiddlesexCounty
4310.8NorfolkCounty
328.0PlymouthCounty
338.3SuffolkCounty
4812.0WorcesterCounty
215.3RestofBoston
348.5PROVIDENCEM.M.
4310.8SPRINGFIELDM.M.

Massachusetts,16