California is an “at-will” state that allows employers to fire an employee whenever they want without having to provide a reason. However, this does not mean that wrongful termination cases cannot occur in California workplaces. If you believe that your employer was in the wrong when you were fired, you might be wondering if you have a wrongful termination case.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Being Terminated
Determining if you have a wrongful termination case isn’t always easy – especially in an at-will state. In most cases, wrongful termination occurs after an employer has treated you unfairly – whether it be through discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or breach of contract. If you can demonstrate that your employer fired you for any of these reasons, you might have a case.
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you may have a valid wrongful termination case.
- Did an employer make comments or take actions that would indicate they may have a bias against certain groups?
- Did an employer make offensive or insulting comments about your age, disability, gender, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sexuality, or sexual orientation?
- Did an employer make unwelcome sexual advances, request sexual favors, or seek to establish a romantic or sexual relationship?
- Before being fired, did you report violations in the company to a supervisor, colleagues, your human resources department, or an enforcement agency?
- Before being fired, did you participate in an investigation of the company's behavior or practices?
- Were you working under a written contract? If so, did it establish certain reasons for termination or a termination procedure?
- Did your employer make any verbal promises, such as saying your job was “guaranteed”?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you might have a wrongful termination case. Polaris Law Group is here to help. Even if you are still unsure, contact our California employment law attorneystoday at (888) 796-4010 for a case review!