Across the U.S. and around the world, most cities that were experiencing phenomenal growth and booming economies just 18 months ago have now sunk into recessionary times. That means millions of people have been thrown out of work. In some cases workers are protected by union agreements that take the sting out of the loss of one's job. But in many other cases workers are at the mercy of their employers. And often that means termination with virtually no compensation at all.

This is as much the case in Portland Oregon as elsewhere across the U.S. In fact after years and years of steady growth, expanding employment and regular increases in incomes and standard of living, Portland has been dragged down into the recession. In fact the metropolitan Portland area - including such places as Tualatin, Hillsboro, Gresham, Beaverton and others - had one of the greatest increases in unemployment in 2008 and 2009 in the entire country.

This means there are many people out of work in Portland and surrounding communities. And that inevitably results in an increase in complaints about unfair termination or failure to meet the legal and contractual conditions of termination.

It is sad yet true that when times get tough many companies will end up treating employees in what those employees correctly perceive as an unfair way. However, if you find yourself in that situation you need to be aware that there are proper laws in place to help you protect your from such treatment. They can be best explained to you by an experienced Portland lawyer.

Even in normal times there are different kinds of poor treatment one might have to face at the workplace. Some common concerns include overworking issues, poor employee morale, wrongful discharge and wrongful termination. Then there are some of the more serious things that can take place including sexual harassment, workplace violence and bullying. Even wage disputes can be a type of discrimination if a person is paid less simply because of the color of their skin or their sex.

Remember that you are not alone in this fight to get a fair shake from your employer. There are many others in Portland who are experiencing the same thing, so it is important to pursue the issue with the proper people as quickly as possible. It takes courage to come forward because your company has many more resources than you do, and to some extent they control the rules. This is exactly why you should seek the help of a professional lawyer to advise you and present your case.

As you begin to feel the situation worsening at your workplace you should take steps to protect yourself. Record the time, date, and description of troubling acts as soon as they occur, since such records can be of great help later if your case gets to court. Keep a diary, neatly chronicling every detail you can remember and keep it at home, not at work.

If you find yourself out of a job and feel the process has been unfair or you have not been given what is owed to you, you should consult with a Portland employment law expert as soon as possible. You will be surprised at the results you can achieve if you have a convincing story and an expert to negotiate on your behalf.