Under state and federal law, the termination of an employee may be unlawful if connected with race, gender, disability, age, religion, and other protected classifications. The law similarly protects employees from retaliation for activities such as reporting unlawful activity or using medical leave and sick time. Discrimination and wrongful termination is not always direct and obvious, and an employer’s stated reason for terminating an employee may frequently be found to be pretextual. Each case requires a careful and diligent examination of all available facts and evidence.

During law school, Steve worked as an intern at the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) in Los Angeles, where he worked on local race discrimination matters as well as major international human trafficking. His first full-time position out of law school was working at a law firm representing exclusively workers in wrongful termination cases related to race, gender, sexual harassment, disability, medical leave, age, and whistleblower retaliation. He took and defended countless depositions, made court appearances throughout multiple counties in Southern California, and chaired many cases to successful resolution via mediation.

His background with Disability Rights Oregon also includes workplace-related issues, including consulting with employers on ways to advance the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace. He understands the both the benefits of building a diverse and open workforce, and the stigma and biases that many individuals with disabilities face in their careers.

Each employment matter is unique. Contact Elzie Law today for a consultation regarding your employment-related needs.