What is the Law Regarding Employment in Portland?

In Portland, employment law means those laws governing employee and employer relationships, as well as independent contractors. This area of law governs such employment issues as hiring procedures, wage amounts, and termination. Employment law in Portland must be understood by employers and employees.

"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms

"At-will" employment is the most common type of employment, but in some cases there may be an employment contract guaranteeing payments for six months to a year. "At-will" employment means that either the employer or the employee can terminate the position at any given time, even without a particular reason, so long as the termination does not violate the law When the parties use an employment contract, the terms of employment will be controlled by their state and federal laws, as applied to people living in Portland.

Anti-Discrimination laws in Portland

Laws that make discrimination illegal at all stages of employment including hiring, wages, and termination policies, all apply to Portland citizens. Individuals who live in the city of Portland are required to follow laws which employers from discriminating based on particular classes. These classes include race, gender, disability, national origin, and age.

Employment discrimination claims are often heard by an administrative agency like the EEOC. Furthermore, some attorneys are specialists in the discrimination field.