If you’ve been fired from your job but you believe your employer acted illegally, you may need to talk to a wrongful termination lawyer serving Glendale and Los Angeles. The state of California has legal protections in place to preserve workers’ rights — and your employer can’t fire you for reasons of discrimination, retaliation, or your refusal to commit an illegal act. Your employer can’t fire you if doing so violates company policy, if you took a protected absence, or if you’re standing up against sexual harassment in the workplace.
Because the state and federal laws around wrongful termination are a little complex, many of our clients come to us with questions about wrongful termination. While not every case of dismissal is considered wrongful termination, the fact is that many people in Glendale, Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities are illegally fired and don’t even realize it.
Common Questions People Ask our Glendale Wrongful Termination Lawyers
Losing your job is never easy — but it’s even tougher when you know that your employer shouldn’t have fired you in the first place.
As wrongful termination lawyers, we’ve helped several people through these difficult circumstances; in many cases, we’ve helped them recoup the money they lost because of their employers’ illegal actions. Every case is different, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to any question; that’s why it’s so important that you talk to a wrongful termination lawyer in California if you believe your employer broke the law by firing you.
Although each case is different, you’ll find answers to some of the most common wrongful termination questions we encounter here.
I’m an at-will employee. Can I sue for wrongful termination?
At-will employment means your boss can fire you at any time, without giving you reason, and that you can quit at any time without providing a reason.
That doesn’t mean your boss can fire you because you’re a whistleblower, you refused to do something illegal, or you took a protected absence. Your boss can’t discriminate, either.
Some of the most common cases we deal with include:
- Wrongful termination for race
- Wrongful termination and religious discrimination
- Wrongful termination for sexual orientation or gender
- Wrongful termination for age discrimination
- Wrongful termination for disability
- Wrongful termination for reporting sexual harassment (or objecting to sexual harassment)
I was fired because I wouldn’t date my boss. Do I have a case?
If your employer fires you because you wouldn’t date him or her, you may have a case for wrongful termination. Sometimes these cases involve sexual harassment, as well, so it’s best to talk to a wrongful termination lawyer in Glendale or L.A. to find out whether you have legal recourse.
It’s against state and federal law to fire someone because he or she complained about sexual harassment. Your employer can’t retaliate against you for making a complaint.
I signed an employment contract. Can they fire me?
Employment agreements sometimes include specific grounds for termination. If you were fired for one of the reasons listed in your employment agreement, your former employer may have been legally justified in letting you go.
Sometimes employment agreements don’t list grounds for termination, though, and sometimes an employer violates company policy when firing someone. For example, if your company’s policy is to provide a verbal warning and a written warning before firing someone but you were fired without one or both, you could have grounds to sue your employer for wrongful termination.
I’ve been with the company for a long time. Can they fire me?
In some cases, long-term employment creates an “implied” contract of employment. If the company’s policy prohibits managers and supervisors from firing people without good cause, or if you were fired in another way that violates company policy, you may have a case.
If you’re over the age of 40 and you were with the company for a long time, is it possible that your employer fired you because of your age? Your wrongful termination lawyer will consider that possibility and examine all the other ways your former employer may have broken state and federal law.
Can I get financial compensation for wrongful termination?
Every case is different, but many people are able to recover damages (that’s what we call financial compensation) after suing for wrongful termination in Glendale, Los Angeles, and elsewhere in California.
You may be able to recover back pay and interest, the value of the benefits you lost, and the loss of future wages and interest.
The simplest way to find out whether you have a claim against your former employer is to talk to a lawyer who understands California’s employment law… and who’s willing to fight for your rights as an employee.
Do You Need to Talk to a Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Glendale?
If you believe you’re the victim of wrongful termination, you need to talk to a wrongful termination lawyer serving Glendale, Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities.
Don’t wait — the law is on your side.
Call us right now at 818-659-8338 or toll-free at 800-774-4163 for a free wrongful termination case evaluation with an attorney. You don’t have to face this alone; we’re here to fight for your rights every step of the way.
