No one should be forced to endure an uncomfortable and hostile work environment. Yet, far too many Lake Oswego-area workers find themselves doing just that. In many instances, illegal actions by employers cause these individuals to lose their jobs, which can leave them facing a difficult financial future and challenges in securing a new job. If you’re in this situation, then you might want to take another look at the facts at hand to determine if legal action for wrongful termination is warranted.
Discrimination in the workplace
One way wrongful termination occurs is through violation of a state or federal statute, including those that prohibit discrimination. Discrimination can take many forms, and it may pertain to your race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or national origin.
Racial discrimination
Racial harassment can include actions such as being subjected to racial slurs and derogatory comments, but racial discrimination in the workplace can be a little subtler. This is because employment policies that are legal on their face can be deemed discriminatory if they are applied in a fashion that has a disproportionate impact on members of a certain race. In order to be considered discriminatory, those policies and practices have to be non-work related and unnecessary for the functioning of the business. This leaves a lot of room for argument, meaning that you might need to put in a lot of effort to be able to prove that you’ve been subjected to, and wrongfully terminated, on the basis of a discriminatory employment practice.
A legal advocate can help you stand up for what is right
The nuances of employment law can make it difficult to fully understand, which might create more anxiety when you think about standing up to your former employer. But you need to do what is right for you and others who may have faced a similar fate. And you don’t have to do it alone. Legal teams, like the one at our firm, stand ready to zealously advocate for victims of wrongful termination to ensure that they stand a chance of finding the accountability and compensation they deserve.