Despite being an employee-friendly state legally, many people are wrongfully terminated from their jobs every year. California employment laws provide workers with legal protections, but without an attorney, employees may be unaware of their rights. Being fired is a financial setback, but it can also be a personal one – especially if you believe you were wrongly terminated. An employer may part ways with an employee, but the reason for the termination cannot be illegal. Wrongful termination cases can be complicated to fight without evidence. Hiring an employment law attorney is vital to investigating your case and reviewing documentation to look for signs of wrongful termination.

1. Breach of Contract: California is an at-will employment state, so employers have the right to fire an employee without cause if the reason isn’t retaliatory or after an inducement. With remote work and hybrid employment situations, some employees who live in California may have signed an employment contract. An employment contract lays out the responsibilities, duties, and benefits of the agreement between an employee and their employer. When these terms are violated, it constitutes a breach of contract.

2. Workplace Discrimination: Workers are protected by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC.) Employers are not allowed to fire an employee for reasons of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin. Workers are also protected from religious discrimination or from medical issues like pregnancy.

3. Violations of Public Policy: An employer cannot fire an employee for taking time off from work to vote or serve on a jury. Employers are not allowed to fire employees for requesting covered medical or family leave. Many employees are covered by whistle-blower protections to provide testimony to law enforcement of violations committed by an employer.

4. Retaliation: It’s never legal to terminate an employee as retaliation for filing an EEOC complaint or alerting a company to issues of harassment. An employee is also protected from retaliation for participating in investigations or lawsuits against an employer involved in illegal activity. Being asked to testify in a case against an employer is not justifiable cause to terminate employment.

Filing a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit

Even if an employee is fired for an illegal reason, it can be difficult to prove a case without evidence of discrimination the action occurred because of a legal violation. Employers aren’t allowed to fire members of a protected class without legal grounds. It can be difficult to prove your case without an experienced attorney investigating it and helping you prove discrimination or breach of contract.

Employment Law Attorneys at the Polaris Law Group

Federal and state laws protect your right to file a civil lawsuit if you believe you were wrongfully terminated. You will need an attorney to help you fight for the compensation and justice you deserve. At the Polaris Law Group, our attorneys have the years of experience and legal expertise needed to know how to navigate these challenging issues. Get in touch with our employment law attorneys today to schedule a consultation by calling (888) 796-4010 or by visiting our website.