Carney R. Shegerian, an employee rights attorney and founder of Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based litigation law firm that represents employees exclusively, has issued the following comment on the film “Up in the Air,” starring George Clooney.

In “Up in the Air,” Clooney is a professional employee-terminator who fires people from their jobs in an effort to corporate downsize. The underlying message in the movie is loud and clear for the worker: corporate America does not care about you at all.

“But while employees may be feeling the wrath of corporations trying to inflate their bank accounts, often this is done in violation of the law,” Shegerian states. “Under the guise of lay-offs, corporate America often uses the opportunity to get rid of employees that they find undesirable. Workers with disabilities, needs for family and medical leaves, older workers, pregnant women and people of foreign ancestries often become target one,” Shegerian notes.

“Employees need to know that tough economic times do not mean they lose their various civil rights to be free from discrimination, retaliation and harassment. Age discrimination is especially prevalent as older workers are targeted because of their higher salaries,” Shegerian states. “Employees need to know this. Corporate America does not care about you so you need to care about yourself and assert your rights.”

An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, always representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won 14 seven figure verdicts representing employees.