You know those hypothetical conversations you might have around the water cooler or elsewhere, talking about how you'd fight when you get canned while all the young squirts get to keep their jobs? They usually end with, "Yeah, but how could you prove it?" And then you realize you'd be up the creek without a paddle, and you accept your fate.

This ruling basically means it would be up to the employer to prove you wrong if you think you were let go because of your age. If the company can't give another reason for laying you off, it appears you'd be protected.

Layoffs in general are apparently happening more so these days than in years past. Harley is a pretty high-profile example, but that's just because they are among the largest employers in York County.

Others either fear for their jobs, or are experiencing layoffs or outright job losses as well. And it's just not in manufacturing, or in places that are covered by a union contract that spells out the rules of how layoffs should and could happen.

If you are an employer, are you worried this is going to suck your company into needless lawsuits when times are already hard? And if you're an employee, are you expecting a little more or a little less job security after this ruling?