If you’re like most people in Los Angeles, Glendale, and elsewhere in California, you’ve heard the term wrongful termination. But what is it—and has it happened to you?
Under California and federal law, employers may not fire employees for certain reasons. Most notably, employers can’t fire an employee if the employee’s termination has to do with some type of discrimination. Other common reasons people contact a wrongful termination lawyer in Los Angeles and Glendale include being fired:
Although California is an “at-will” employment state, your employer can’t fire you for an unlawful reason. Your employer can’t fire you for a purpose that violates fundamental public policies, either.
Public policy is a pretty general term, and it refers to a system of laws, regulatory measures, and courses of action. It’s what the laws rest on, and it particularly refers to policy that hasn’t been turned into specific rules yet.
Most people choose to work with a wrongful termination lawyer in Los Angeles or Glendale who understands the ins and outs of California employment law.
Your lawyer will ask you several questions, including whether you were an at-will or for-cause based employee. Your attorney will likely need to review your personnel records, your employment agreement, and your former employer’s company policies.
Before you can proceed with a wrongful termination suit in Los Angeles, Glendale, or anywhere else in the state, your lawyer will need to figure out whether your employer violated any law by firing you.
He’ll examine your case to determine whether you were fired in violation of anti-discrimination laws, whether you refused to commit a criminal act, or because you asserted your protected, statutory rights. He’ll also determine if your employer fired you because:
- You were performing a statutory obligation, like jury duty or service in the military (including National Guard drills and annual training exercises)
- You were a whistleblower or you reported violations of the law
The state of California has a 2-year statute of limitations on filing a wrongful termination suit, so it’s important that you act quickly if you believe you were fired for an unlawful reason.
You may be able to sue your former employer for damages if you were unlawfully fired. The amount and type of damages you’re able to recover will depend on whether you were an at-will or for-cause employee. (If you’re a for-cause employee with a contract, a different type of law applies to you; contract law limits the damages you can recover.)
Many people, regardless of employment status, are able to recover back pay, the value of benefits, relocation costs, and loss of security.
At-will employees may be able to recover damages for emotional distress or physical harm and the loss of future wages and interest. In some cases, at-will employees who were fired illegally are entitled to punitive damages (a judge imposes punitive on the employer with the intent to punish them), particularly when the termination was malicious, oppressive, or based on fraud.
If you believe your employer wrongfully terminated you, we may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 818-659-8324 or get in touch with us online for a free wrongful termination case review. We’ll evaluate your situation and begin developing a strategy that gets you the best possible outcome right away.
Overtime is defined as any hours worked over 8 in a day or 40 in…
How do you file a labor board complaint in California? The answer to this question…
If you've been the victim of workplace discrimination in California, you may be wondering what…
You may be wondering if your employer is required to reimburse you for work-related expenses…
Most employers in California are required to provide workers with seating. IN fact, there are…
Unpaid commissions in the state of California are monies that are earned by an employee…
This website uses cookies.