California Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Employees in California rely on their job to financially support themselves and their families. When they lose that job, it is always a traumatic and stressful experience. Employment in The Golden State is considered at-will, which means that in many situations, an employer can fire a worker at any time and for any reason. Sometimes, an employer does not even need a reason to fire a worker. However, there are very strict exceptions to this. If you believe you have been fired unfairly, it is important to speak to a California wrongful termination lawyer.

Wrongful Terminations Based on Discrimination

It is illegal for employers to fire employees based on discriminatory reasons. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act identifies certain protected classes that have the right to be free of discrimination. The protected classes include individuals of certain races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and more. An employer may tell an employee they are being fired for another reason, or even no reason at all, when truthfully, the reason is discrimination.

Proving discrimination in the workplace is not always easy, but it is not impossible, either. Any employee that has been terminated due to discrimination can hold their employer accountable for paying certain damages.

Wrongful Termination of a Contracted Employee

Any employee that has a written contract with their employer is not considered an at-will employee. Employees that have been given an offer of employment letter, or other written document that indicates continued employment are also not considered at-will employees. When a contracted employee is fired and it goes against the terms within the contract, it is considered a wrongful termination.

Not all contracts have to be written to be considered an exception to California’s at-will employment law. Implied contracts are agreements based on things an employer said or did that indicated an employee would have an employment position for a certain period of time. Wrongful terminations based on implied contracts are more difficult to prove because there is no written documentation in place. Still, a California wrongful termination lawyer can help employees with implied contracts hold their employers accountable.

Wrongful Termination Based on Retaliation

Employers have many rights when it comes to terminating employees, but firing someone out of retaliation is not one of them. Employees may sometimes take certain actions their employer does not agree with, but those actions are protected under the law. Employers cannot retaliate against employees for taking their rightful Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, filing a workers’ compensation claim, filing a whistleblower claim, and more. Any time a worker feels as though an employer is retaliating against them, they should speak to a lawyer that can help them prove their claim.

Call Our Wrongful Termination Lawyer in California Today

If you have been fired from your job and you believe your employer violated the law, our California wrongful termination lawyers at Obagi Law Group, P.C. will stand up for your rights. Call us today at 424-284-2401 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.