At Elite Employment Law, we understand the challenges faced by workers who have experienced age discrimination. If you have been fired, demoted, or treated unfairly due to your age, our experienced Orange County employment law attorney can help you.
Most forms of age discrimination are illegal under both California law and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). We have decades of experience using these laws to achieve justice for our clients.
We are committed to defending the rights of California employees and are ready to help correct the workplace wrongs you have experienced. Contact us today for a free confidential consultation.
Meet Attorney Samuel P. Nielson
Founder & Lead Attorney
Samuel P. Nielson is the Founder and Lead Attorney of Elite Employment Law APC, where he is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees across Southern California. With over a decade of experience, Sam has built a reputation for fierce advocacy and trusted legal counsel in employment law. He represents a wide range of clients—from corporate executives to hourly workers—in all stages of employment disputes, including pre-litigation negotiations, administrative hearings, litigation, and trial.
Sam focuses exclusively on employment law and has successfully handled cases involving age discrimination, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, religious discrimination, sexual harassment, general workplace harassment, unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, wage disputes, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their workplace. Unfortunately, many employees in California still face serious challenges such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination—issues that violate both federal and state labor laws. At Elite Employment Law, we exclusively represent employees and have a success rate surpassing 97 percent. We understand what it takes to achieve justice and are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Contact an Orange County Employment Attorneys Today
If you’re facing issues at work—whether it’s harassment, retaliation, wage disputes, wrongful termination, or any other employment law concern—Elite Employment Law is here to help. We’re committed to protecting your rights and fighting for the fair treatment and compensation you deserve. Every employee has the right to a safe, respectful, and lawful workplace. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you. Contact Elite Employment Law today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice.
How Our Orange County Employment Law Attorneys Can Help You
At Elite Employment Law, our Orange County age discrimination attorney has extensive experience in employment law and a deep understanding of both state and federal age discrimination regulations.
We are committed to fighting for the rights of California employees and helping seek justice for workplace wrongs. When you meet with us, we will listen to your experiences, evaluate your case and explain your options.
If we represent you, we will help you collect and organize evidence to support your case and guide you through the process of filing complaints with the appropriate agencies such as the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Our employment law attorney knows how to negotiate with employers to frequently reach a favorable settlement. However, if necessary, we are prepared to represent you in court to protect your rights, recover the damages you are owed, and achieve justice.
Understanding Age Discrimination
Age discrimination occurs when an employer uses an employee’s age as a factor in making employment decisions. This can happen during the hiring process, while you are employed, or during termination.
Age discrimination is not always obvious. It can be subtle and difficult to prove directly. That is why courts often rely on circumstantial evidence in these cases. Comparing the treatment of older workers to that of younger employees often shows a clearer picture of what is happening on the job.
Some common examples of age discrimination include:
- Wrongful termination
- Denial of promotions
- Negative performance reviews
- Demotions
- Suspensions
- Hostile work environment
These actions become especially suspicious if your employer has recently made comments about your age or if there is a pattern of older workers being treated unfavorably.
Legal Protections Against Age Discrimination
In California, if you are 40 years old or older and work for a company with at least 5 employees, you are protected against workplace discrimination due to your age under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) provides additional protection for workers in companies with 20 or more employees.
There are some exceptions to these protections, including:
- Employees in “high policy-making positions” who receive a substantial annual retirement benefit may not be covered
- Jobs that legitimately require youth may be exempt
- Some contracted workers, including tenured university professors, police officers, and firefighters, may have clauses in their contracts allowing for age-based decisions
How to Recognize Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Age discrimination can take many forms. Some signs to watch out for include:
- Hiring practices. If a company consistently hires younger applicants over equally or more qualified older candidates, it may be engaging in discriminatory practices.
- Promotion and advancement. If younger, less experienced employees are routinely promoted over older, more qualified workers, this could indicate age bias.
- Training opportunities. When older workers are excluded from training sessions or professional development opportunities, it may be a form of age discrimination.
- Performance evaluations. Unfair or overly critical performance reviews that seem to target older workers could be discriminatory.
- Layoffs or downsizing. If a company disproportionately terminates older workers during restructuring or budget cuts, it may be using these events as a cover for age discrimination.
- Hostile work environment. Comments, jokes, or harassment related to age can create a hostile work environment for older workers.
Case Results
Workplace Retaliation Case
$2.95 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a manager fired for objecting to race discrimination the manager faced from co-workers.
Unpaid Overtime Case
$1.6 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a sales manager deprived of earned commissions and overtime wages.
Sexual Discrimination Case
$750,000 Settlement- Confidential settlement for a vice president subject to sex discrimination, including hundreds of thousands in unpaid bonuses paid to male peers.
Testimonials
“If you’re in need of an Employment Lawyer, I highly encourage you to at least speak with the team at Elite Employment Law and see what they can do to help you!”
“Sam and the entire team at Elite Employment Law are fantastic. I recently had a need for guidance and support in an employment-related case and spoke with several different firms and attorneys before deciding to work with Sam. His firm has a great set of support staff to help with intake and onboarding, making the process very smooth. For Sam’s part, he maintained active communication as the case progressed, and promptly replied to all my questions throughout.”
-Zachary C.
“Sam Nielson handled my wrongful termination and defamation claims with a skill and expertise that went beyond just the basics of law. He was excellent at coaching me through the process and managing my expectations every step of the way. None of this was fun, but I am very glad Sam was there to be my guide.”
-Bill B.
“Working with Elite Employment Law was a seamless experience. Their team was professional, efficient, and made the entire process simple. They kept me informed every step of the way and delivered outstanding results. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend their services!!”
-Adam B.
Areas Our Orange County Employment Lawyers Serve
We proudly serve the following neighborhoods in Orange County, CA:
Anaheim | Irvine | Newport Beach | Huntington Beach | Laguna Beach | Costa Mesa | Santa Ana | Fullerton | Orange | Mission Viejo | Garden Grove | Buena Park | San Clemente | Tustin | Westminster | Yorba Linda | Dana Point | Lake Forest | Aliso Viejo | Laguna NiguelCypress | Fountain Valley | La Habra | Laguna Hills | Laguna Woods | Los Alamitos | Placentia | Rancho Santa Margarita | Seal Beach | Stanton
Contact Our Orange County Age Discrimination Lawyers Today
Age discrimination can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. It is not just about losing a job or missing out on a promotion; it is also about having your dignity and the value of your experience undermined.
You have the right to work in an environment free from discrimination. If you believe you have been a victim of age discrimination, let us help you.
We are here to listen to your story, evaluate your case, and fight for your rights. Let us put our experience and passion for justice to work for you.
Contact Elite Employment Law today to schedule a free confidential consultation. Together, we can stand up against age discrimination and work towards a fairer, more inclusive workplace for all.