No matter what you do for a living in and around Redondo Beach, there’s no denying that a regular income is the key to living a decent quality of life. Some people even have a full time job and one of two side hustles just to make ends meet. That’s why losing your job is devastating, especially if your employer deliberately infringed on your employment rights in order to get rid of you.
Wrongful termination is a common problem facing many people living and working in Redondo Beach. Based on how and why you were fired, you may have grounds to sue your employer and obtain compensation for the harm you suffered. Our lawyers are here to help, 24/7, so contact the offices of California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group.
Wrongful Termination Based on Discrimination
To some degree, we all make judgements about others, like what someone is capable of achieving based on their age, education, personality, etc. However, both state and federal laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace against protected traits, and this includes firing someone and making other negative employment decisions. The vast majority of wrongful termination lawsuits have to do with some form of discrimination and the employer’s violation of labor laws, such as:
- The federal legislation known as the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on characteristics like national origin, race, disability, age, and sex at companies with 15 or more workers
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which makes it illegal to discriminate against those with a medical condition that qualifies as a physical or mental disability.
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), an amendment to Title VII that protects workers from discrimination if they are pregnant, gave birth, or suffering a medical condition related to pregnancy.
- The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) makes it illegal for employers to make adverse employment decisions based on someone’s genetic testing information or family medical history.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects workers that are 40 years and older from discrimination by employers with 20 or more workers.
All of these laws also prohibit retaliation, meaning your employer cannot fire you for complaining about discriminatory practices. So, if you filed an HR complaint or discrimination claim with a government agency, or reported safety violations to Cal/OSHA, your employer cannot fire you. since you are exercising your employment rights.
If you believe that your employer violated state or federal laws by taking away your job, contact our team of Redondo Beach wrongful termination lawyers right away.
Categories of Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination is a broad term that includes different ways of firing someone illegally. For example, your employer may have violated a written or verbal contract when they terminated your employment. California laws recognize verbal contracts, i.e., agreements made orally or implied in company handbooks / policies. So, if your employer has broken an implied or explicit contract for employment, you can file a claim for wrongful termination.
Another type of wrongful termination involves whistleblowers, or employees that report illegal or unethical practices by their employer. Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under the California Labor Code Section 1102.5. These protections include:
- An employer cannot have policies that prevent or discourage workers from whistleblowing.
- An employer cannot retaliate by firing a whistleblower or subjecting them to other punitive actions.
- An employer is prohibited from retaliating against an employee that refuses to participate in illegal activities.
If your employer engaged in any of these illegal acts in response to you reporting illegal activity to the authorities, give us a call and speak to a wrongful termination attorney in Redondo Beach. We know that going through with a legal action against your employer is not something anyone looks forward to. Please know that we are here to offer advice and guidance, not pressure you into a lawsuit. However, we know for a fact that employers count on current and former workers staying silent, which allows them to get away with breaking the law time and time again. That’s why it’s important for wrongfully terminated workers to speak out and make it clear that illegal terminations will not be tolerated.
Payments from a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
Compensation is the main form of remedy for those who succeed in a lawsuit for wrongful termination. Payments from your employer can include:
- Value of lost wages and job-related benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to your professional reputation
- Reinstatement of your job
- Lawyer’s fees
- Punitive damages
Please note that federal laws establish the maximum that can be recovered for a wrongful termination case, which are as follows:
- $50,000 for employers with 15 to 100 employees
- $100,000 for employers with 101-200 employees
- $200,000 for employers with 201-500 employees
- $300,000 for employers with more than 500 employees
Contact a Redondo Beach Lawyer Specializing in Wrongful Terminations
Employees have rights that cannot be violated by the employer, yet many workplaces take the chance of firing someone and hoping that the worker won’t do anything about it. Sadly, many people who were wrongfully dismissed are under the impression that they have no options when it comes to abusive treatment by an unjust employer.
California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is here to fight for you and the compensation you are legally owed. The legal process won’t be smooth and easy, but we are more than ready to handle every aspect of your case and hold your employer accountable for their conduct. We also operate on contingency, and that means you pay $0 if you would like us to represent you in a wrongful termination lawsuit. Instead of charging you upfront, we agree to accept a percentage of your settlement. On top of that, we have a Zero Fee Guarantee policy, so you do not pay a single cent if we do not win your case.
The journey begins with a free case review to learn about your legal options. We look forward to hearing your story and helping you move on with life in a positive direction. Contact our legal experts today and find out how you can sue your employer for illegal termination.
