At Elite Employment Law, we understand that workplace discrimination based on disability is a serious issue that continues to affect many employees in Orange County and throughout California.
Our experienced Orange County employment law attorney is dedicated to protecting the rights of workers who face unfair treatment due to their disabilities. We believe that everyone deserves equal opportunities and fair treatment in the workplace, regardless of their physical or mental condition.
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.
Why Choose Our Orange County Disability Discrimination Attorneys
At Elite Employment Law, we focus our practice on protecting the rights of employees in Southern California. We have assisted numerous workers who have experienced disability discrimination to obtain justice and have their rights respected.
When you schedule your free confidential consultation with us, we will listen carefully to your story, explain your rights, and help you determine your best options. When we take on your case, we get to work helping you gather important evidence to support your claims.
We will assist you in filing any necessary complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
We will craft a legal strategy based on your unique situation to best protect your rights and achieve justice. We have over a decade of successful experience negotiating with employers to secure reasonable accommodations and resolve discrimination issues.
If we are unable to reach a favorable resolution through negotiation, we are prepared to represent you in court to fight for your rights and to seek compensation for damages when appropriate.
Understanding Disability Discrimination Laws in Orange County
Both federal and California state laws provide strong protections for employees with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at the federal level and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) at the state level prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment.
These laws also require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, ensuring they can perform their job duties effectively.
Key Protections Under the Law
It is important to know what protections are offered for employees with disabilities. Following are some of the most important:
Prohibition of Discrimination
Employers cannot discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
Reasonable Accommodations
Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business.
Protection Against Harassment
The law prohibits harassment based on an individual’s disability or perceived disability.
Retaliation Protection
It is illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who assert their rights under disability discrimination laws.
What Constitutes a Disability?
Under both the ADA and FEHA, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This can include:
- Physical conditions (e.g., mobility impairments, chronic illnesses)
- Mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders)
- Cognitive impairments (e.g., learning disabilities)
- Sensory impairments (e.g., vision or hearing loss)
It is important to note that California’s FEHA provides broader protections than the ADA, covering a wider range of conditions and offering more comprehensive protections for employees.
Common Forms of Disability Discrimination
At Elite Employment Law, we have seen many forms of disability discrimination in Orange County workplaces. Some common examples include:
- Failure to Provide Reasonable Accommodations. This can include refusing to make modifications to the work environment, job duties, or schedules that would allow an employee with a disability to perform their job effectively.
- Wrongful Termination. Firing an employee because of their disability or their need for accommodation is illegal.
- Hiring Discrimination. Refusing to hire qualified candidates because of their disability or perceived disability.
- Promotion Denial. Overlooking employees with disabilities for promotions or advancement opportunities despite their qualifications
- Harassment. Subjecting employees to a hostile work environment due to their disability, including offensive comments, jokes, or exclusion from work-related activities.
- Retaliation. Taking adverse action against employees who request accommodations or file complaints about disability discrimination.
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 Disability Discrimination Lawyers Today
You do not have to tolerate workplace disability discrimination, and you do not have to face it alone. Our experienced employment law attorney is ready to help you. We will fight for your rights and seek the justice you deserve.
Let us explain your rights and help you determine your best options. Contact Elite Employment Law today to schedule your free confidential consultation.