Lawmakers Propose Limiting Arbitration Pacts for Older Workers

A bipartisan pair of lawmakers in the Senate are renewing efforts to curb the use of forced arbitration clauses after recent successes to restrict enforcement of some of those agreements under certain circumstances.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would invalidate forced arbitration agreements signed prior to allegations of age discrimination. The Protecting Older Americans Act marks the third attempt by the duo to limit employment agreements after successfully passing legislation last year to void forced arbitration and nondisclosure clauses in cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

“The idea of signing an ...