Located in northern Los Angeles County, the city of Palmdale is a thriving community with approximately 60,000 workers. Palmdale offers employment in many sectors, including education, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, business administration, construction, and public utilities. Are you someone who is employed by a company or business in Palmdale, CA? Are you a Palmdale resident who is working in a neighboring city in Los Angeles County? Did you lose your job recently and feel that you were terminated because of discrimination and other illegal practices by your employer?
If you suspect that you were wrongfully terminated, you should seek guidance from an employment attorney as soon as possible. You may be eligible for compensation from a lawsuit against your employer, but this is a complicated process that you should not attempt on your own. Our wrongful termination lawyers in Palmdale are here to help, 24/7, so contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group at your earliest opportunity.
Wrongful Termination as a Legal Violation
There are many reasons to fire someone, and some of these may seem unfair to the person that loses their job. But there are specific requirements when it comes to a wrongful termination, and these have to do with violations of state and federal labor laws. The majority of wrongful terminations are based on discrimination against characteristics like race, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, and religion. These are examples of protected characteristics under California and federal laws.
Another unlawful basis for termination is retaliation, which often goes hand in hand with discrimination. For example, a worker who is harassed about their ethnicity may go to HR and file a complaint. The employer is upset the worker “does not know their place” and is making a big deal out of nothing. As a result, they fire the worker and tell them that their work performance has fallen below acceptable standards, when the real reason is punishment for exercising their employment rights.
If you believe discrimination and retaliation played a role in why you were fired, contact our law firm immediately to learn about your rights and legal options.
Filing a Government Agency Claim for Wrongful Termination
So, you were dismissed for illegal reasons from your job in Palmdale. Is there anything you can do to hold your employer accountable? What are the legal actions you can take if you suffered monetary losses because of a wrongful termination? One option is to file an employment rights violation claim in one of the following ways:
- File a claim at the federal level with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- File a claim with the state of California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD), formerly known as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Both of these agencies enforce labor violations and issue sanctions against employers that do not comply with employment regulations. Which agency you should file with is a subject you can discuss with one of our attorneys. Our law firm can also lay the foundation for a lawsuit in case you receive a Right to Sue letter in response to your claim, which means you can sue your employer through the civil courts.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit for Illegal Employment Practices
Employment claims must be reported to the DFEH or the CRD and investigated by the agency to determine if your case has merit. Once the investigation has concluded, the agency can either issue penalties to the employer or give you the right to file a lawsuit for wrongful termination. Please note that unless you are provided a Right to Sue notice, the courts will not allow you to proceed with a lawsuit.
If you are interested in suing your employer, it’s in your best interest to hire a Palmdale attorney with experience in unlawful terminations. This will ensure that the legal process continues without unnecessary delays and interruptions, while you focus on finding a new job, being there for your family, and taking care of other important matters.
Filing Your Paperwork on Time
As you probably guessed, you do not have an indefinite amount of time to submit a wrongful termination claim with the CRD or EEOC. The same principle applies to a wrongful termination lawsuit, which is also governed by a statute of limitations. The following timelines are important to keep in mind if you plan on filing a complaint against your employer:
- From the date of violation by your employer, all workers in California have 300 days to file a wrongful termination claim with the EEOC.
- Once the EEOC sends you a Right to Sue letter, you have 90 days to file a lawsuit.
- If your claim is being filed with the California Civil Rights Department, you have a deadline of 1 year.
- After the CRD allow you to sue your employer, you have 1 year to file a lawsuit for wrongful termination.
Statute of limitations is a complex subject when it comes to labor related issues. This is why you should verify the correct procedures and timelines that apply to your situation with a city of Palmdale wrongful termination attorney.
Contact Our Law Firm
With California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group by your side, you can succeed in a wrongful termination claim against your former employer. Our law firm is comprised of attorneys with decades of experience in discrimination, breach of contract, retaliation, and other illegal conduct that can lead to a wrongful termination.
We also stand by the principle of making legal services accessible to all, which is why we are happy to offer the Zero Fee Guarantee from the moment you contact us. If you would like us to represent you, all legal fees are deferred until the recovery of your settlement. So, you pay $0 for the entire duration of your case, and if we fail to obtain lost wages, pain and suffering, and other payments on your behalf, you owe us absolutely nothing.
A Palmdale wrongful termination lawyer is waiting to speak with you, so contact office today and schedule a free, private consultation.
