San Clemente has a lot to offer, whether you enjoy historic architecture or outings to the beach with your family or furry companion. Unfortunately, the advantages of living in San Clemente can be difficult to appreciate when you have been wrongfully terminated.
We all know that jobs can be stressful and take up much of our time and energy, even on your days off. However, we all have to pay bills and the idea of losing a job is not something anything looks forward to. And yes, there are plenty of reasons for an employer to take away someone’s job legitimately, but you also have cases of illegal termination, meaning that the employer has violated state or federal labor laws.
If you believe you were wrongfully terminated from your job in San Clemente, contact the attorneys of California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. Knowing your rights and the actions you can take is critical to holding your employer accountable and recovering your financial losses. We look forward to meeting you and being a part of your journey to financial and emotional recovery.
What You Should Know about Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination refers to someone being fired on grounds that are illegal, meaning that the employer has violated a local, state, or federal law. You can also be wrongfully terminated if there was a breach of contract. While the majority of employers in California follow the at-will employment system, some jobs do come with contracts that specify the terms for how and when an employee can be fired. So, it’s possible to prove a case of wrongful termination based on the terms of an employment contract.
However, it’s clear that most cases of unlawful termination are based on discrimination and retaliation. What does this mean? In terms of discrimination, federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act make it illegal to use factors like age, gender, sexuality, religion, and disability as a basis for employment decisions. As an example, employers cannot make hiring policies that exclude people with a physical or mental disability. They are also prohibited from demoting or firing someone because of their race, ethnicity, or country of origin.
Another type of wrongful termination involves retaliation, meaning the employer is punishing the worker for doing something they don’t like. Common examples of wrongful termination based on retaliation include:
- Firing someone because they reported unsafe work conditions to a government agency.
- Telling a worker that they are fired because they reported incidents of sexual harassment to Human Resources.
- After an employee comes back from extended medical leave they are entitled to under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the employer gives them a termination notice.
- A group of workers are fired after they give information to a government agency that’s investigating the employer for discrimination and other illegal practices.
Aside from laws at the federal level, the state of California also protects workers from unlawful conduct by their employers. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act has a list of protected categories that cannot be used as a basis for adverse employment decisions. These include sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, marital status, and other categories that are not covered by Title VII.
For a detailed explanation of the laws that protect you from wrongful termination, contact our team of San Clemente wrongful termination attorneys.
Justice for Those Who are Wrongfully Terminated
Losing your job without legal justification can leave you feeling alone and powerless. But you can take back control by calling out your employer’s behavior and seeking changes in the workplace, along with compensation for lost wages and other monetary damages.
You may have heard of people filing wrongful termination lawsuits, and this is an option we are happy explore with you. However, you cannot begin the legal process through the court system when it comes to an employment rights violation case. Instead, you must file a complaint with a government agency, such as:
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EECO), a federal entity that enforces labor laws, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA).
- The California Civil Rights Department (CRD), which handles violations of California’s anti-discrimination and retaliation laws.
After the applicable agency investigates your allegations, they may allow you to go ahead with a lawsuit by issuing a Right to Sue notice. Based on which agency you filed with, you will have anywhere from 90 days to 1 year if you wish to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Pay $0 to Hire a San Clemente Wrongful Termination Claim
Wrongful termination happens more frequently that most people realize, and employers continue to treat people this way because they are allowed to get away with it, time after time. This is why speaking out and demanding justice is so important. Along with getting back what is rightfully yours, you can set an example that helps others who are in a similar position.
Whether you live in San Clemente or work for an employer in the city, our legal team is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even better, you can hire a wrongful termination lawyer in San Clemente for $0 down, thanks to the Zero Fee Guarantee. You pay nothing throughout the duration of your case, and we only get paid at the point of your settlement check being released by your employer. So, you walk away debt-free in the event we fail to bring about a successful resolution to your case.
At the end of the day, you deserve the opportunity to tell your story and demand accountability from your employer if your job was taken away from you illegally. All you have to do is contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options.
