Do you believe that your recent termination from your job was illegal? Were you suddenly fired without a valid reason, or after you were subjected to discrimination and other unfair treatment by your employer?
Sadly, wrongful termination happens quite regularly in California, and being unemployed takes a heavy toll on your physical and mental health, not to mention your finances. Based on the circumstances, you may have the right to pursue a lawsuit and obtain compensation from your employer. The key is to contact a skilled wrongful termination lawyer immediately, which you will find here at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group.
Our legal team is ready to provide you with guidance and fight to secure maximum payment on your behalf. Use our contact form or give us a call and schedule a free case review at your earliest convenience.
Definition of Wrongful Termination
It’s important to understand the legal definition of a wrongful termination and not confuse it with loss of employment that is unfair or unexpected. Certainly, a wrongful termination can be both of these things, but the key is whether you were fired for a reason that violates your employment rights. For instance, there are numerous laws that prohibit hiring and firing decisions that are made on the basis of discrimination. The following are circumstances that fall under the category of workplace discrimination:
- Being fired because your employer believes you are too old (age discrimination laws apply to individuals over the age of 40)
- Termination based on the employer’s perception of the employee’s race, ethnicity, or nationality.
- Firing a female worker because she came back from maternity leave and asked for breastfeeding accommodations, like time during the day to pump breast milk.
- Termination due to the employer’s beliefs against the employee’s sexual orientation.
If any of these situations resonates with your experience at work, it’s possible that you lost your job illegally. If you suspect that your employer wrongfully fired you, please take a moment to contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. We can help you explore the federal and state laws that protect you from retaliation and other illegal practices by your employer.
What Laws Protect Me from Wrongful Termination?
In the previous section, we mentioned that there are laws to protect workers at the federal and state level. These statutes have certain requirements, and it’s possible that your employer does not have to comply with the rules against discrimination and retaliation. However, just about all employers – even small businesses – are covered by one or more employment laws. So, if you can show that your employer violated any of the laws that pertain to your rights as a California employee, you can file a labor law complaint or lawsuit for monetary restitution.
Let’s take a look at the federal legislation that protects you and other employees:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on their preference or bias against characteristics like religion, race, sex, gender, and disability.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act was created to ensure fair and equal access to people with disabling medical conditions in all public areas of life, including the workplace
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against someone that is 40 years of age or older
The Age Discrimination and Americans with Disabilities Act are amendments to Title VII that were added over time to enhance protections for employees who are facing unfair and abusive treatment at their job.
The State of California has their own set of employment laws, like the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Just like Title VII, this law prohibits discrimination of employees based on protected characteristics and covers employers with as few as 5 employees. This is a critical form of protection, as Title VII only applies if the employer has 15 or more employees. Additionally, FEHA has protected categories that are not included in Title VII, so more people can seek protection under the law if they are wrongfully terminated.
You can learn more about FEHA, Title VII and other employment laws from one of our attorneys during a free, private consultation.
Do I Have What It Takes for a Wrongful Termination Case?
Yes, if you lost your job because of a legal violation, like workplace discrimination and retaliation or violation of employment contract, you have a case for wrongful termination. Of course, this is a simplistic answer to a complex question, which is why you should talk to a wrongful termination lawyer as soon as possible.
Depending on why you were fired, you may need to file a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the California Civil Rights Department. Or, you may have to submit a claim to a different agency altogether. This is the first step before you can file a lawsuit, as you will need permission from one of these agencies before you can sue your employer directly. As you can see, this a complicated process, and there is much more you will need to accomplish in order to get justice for a wrongful termination. With that in mind, seek legal representation right from the start by contacting our office today.
Zero Fee Guarantee
We know that taking legal action against a former employer is a big decision, and many people are afraid of the costs that are involved with a wrongful termination lawsuit. If legal fees are holding you back from reaching out to us, please be assured that we are a contingency-based law firm. What does that mean? We take your case for $0 upfront and agree to receive a percentage of the compensation paid to you by your employer. If we fail to bring about a successful resolution to your case, we make $0, and you are not asked to cover any of our expenses.
Essentially, you can hire a California wrongful termination lawyer today without spending a penny. Contact us at your earliest convenience to schedule a free case review with our legal team.
