About Graham Law Group, PC — Employment Law Salem Oregon

Graham Law Group, PC provides employment law Salem Oregon workers and employers across Marion County count on for workplace legal matters — from wage theft and discrimination claims to wrongful termination and employment contract disputes. Salem, as Oregon’s state capital, has a substantial public-sector workforce alongside significant private industry, creating employment law needs that range from state employee rights disputes and whistleblower protection cases to private-sector discrimination claims and wage-and-hour violations. Oregon’s robust worker protection statutes — including some of the strongest anti-discrimination and wage laws in the country — make employment law in Salem a specialized and consequential practice area.

Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) in Salem is the primary state enforcement agency for wage claims and civil rights complaints, and practitioners here must understand both BOLI’s administrative process and the parallel civil litigation track available to employees in Marion County Circuit Court. Graham Law Group, PC brings that dual-track expertise to clients across the Salem metro area. The firm also handles real estate matters — an area with distinct legal considerations in Marion County’s active property market. For more employment law resources serving Salem, visit /lawyers/category/employment-law/.

What Clients Say

Clients of Graham Law Group, PC highlight the firm’s thorough approach to employment matters and its command of Oregon’s specific worker protection laws. Employees who have suffered wage violations, discrimination, or wrongful termination value an attorney who understands both the BOLI complaint process and the litigation options available when administrative resolution falls short.

Employment Law Salem — Practice Areas & Services

• Wage & Hour Claims: Represents Salem employees in claims for unpaid wages, overtime violations, minimum wage failures, and final paycheck disputes under Oregon’s wage and hour statutes and Oregon BOLI enforcement.
• Employment Discrimination: Handles claims under Oregon law and Title VII for discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, religion, and other protected characteristics affecting Marion County workers.
• Wrongful Termination: Represents employees wrongfully discharged in violation of Oregon’s public policy protections, at-will exceptions, and retaliation statutes.
• Real Estate Law: Assists Marion County buyers, sellers, and landlords with Oregon property transactions, commercial leases, and real estate disputes.
• Employment Contracts: Reviews and negotiates employment agreements, non-compete provisions, and severance agreements for Salem-area workers and employers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file an employment discrimination or wage claim in Salem, Oregon?

Oregon employees have two primary routes for employment claims. They can file a complaint with Oregon BOLI — located in Portland with jurisdiction over the entire state, including Marion County — within one year for discrimination claims or six years for wage claims under state law. Alternatively, employees can file directly in Marion County Circuit Court, located at the Marion County Courthouse at 100 High Street NE in Salem. Many attorneys advise evaluating both paths before filing, as procedural choices made early affect available remedies and timelines.

Does Oregon law prohibit non-compete agreements for Salem employees?

Oregon significantly restricts non-compete agreements. Since 2021, Oregon law requires that non-competes be limited to 12 months, apply only to employees earning above a salary threshold (adjusted annually), and be provided in advance of employment or a bona fide promotion. Non-competes that don’t comply with these requirements are voidable. For existing agreements signed before the law’s effective date, different standards may apply — an employment attorney can assess whether your non-compete is enforceable under current Oregon law.

What makes Oregon’s wage protection laws particularly strong for Salem workers?

Oregon has some of the most comprehensive wage protection statutes in the country. The state mandates payment of final wages within specified deadlines upon termination — with penalty wages (up to 30 days of wages) for employers who willfully fail to pay on time. Oregon’s minimum wage is above the federal floor and varies by region, with the Portland metro rate higher than the standard Oregon rate. BOLI’s Wage and Hour Division actively investigates complaints, and employees can also pursue civil claims with attorney fee-shifting provisions that make litigation accessible even for lower-wage workers.