If you were wrongfully terminated from your job, or experienced retaliation by your employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The next step is to speak with a wrongful termination lawyer. California law provides generous protections to employees.
Our California wrongful termination attorneys can help you understand your rights as an employee and help you navigate the legal system.
Call us for a free consultation to discuss your situation and help you figure out your options. At Pimentel Law, our focus is on proving the integrity of your case and getting you compensated for the harm caused to you. Mr. Pimentel and his team are some of the most dedicated wrongful termination lawyers California has to offer.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination is when your employer fires you for a reason that is prohibited by law. In order to understand wrongful termination, you must first understand the concept of “at-will” employment, which is codified in California Labor Code § 2922.
In California, employment is “at-will”, which means that the employer can fire you for any reason or no reason at all, even if the reason is arbitrary or unfair. However, at-will employment is subject to some limitations. Indeed, despite the at-will employment rule, the Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) (California Government Code § 12940, et seq.) makes it unlawful to terminate an employee because of:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Ancestry
- Genetic Information
- Religious Creed
- Age
- Physical Disability
- Mental Disability
- Medical Condition
- Military or Veteran Status
- Sex
- Gender
- Gender Identity
- Gender Expression
- Sexual Orientation
- Marital Status
It also prohibits your employer from retaliating against you for:
- Opposing any unlawful employment practice prohibited by the FEHA
- Filing a complaint, testifying or assisting in any proceeding under the FEHA
- Requesting accommodation for a disability or a religious belief
Because there are so many potential limitations on the at-will employment rule, it is important to consult with a California wrongful termination attorney if you suspect you were the victim of a wrongful termination.
If you were fired for any of the reasons listed above, then your employer has violated the law, and you should speak to an experienced wrongful termination lawyer in California.
What Is Unlawful Retaliation under the FEHA?
Retaliation is when your employer subjects you to an adverse employment action because you engaged in a “protected activity.” The term “protected activity” includes complaints about conduct that you believe violates the FEHA even if it turns out that the conduct you were complaining about did not actually violate the FEHA. Retaliation can take the form of:
- A demotion
- Loss in pay
- Reduction in hours
- Suspension
- Termination
- Assignment of undesirable job duties
The FEHA is just one of several statutes that prohibit retaliation. For a more exhaustive list of statutes that prohibit retaliation, please see the California Department of Industrial Relations web page, laws that prohibit retaliation and discrimination.
Talk to a Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Specialist
At Pimentel Law, we specialize in handling retaliation and wrongful termination cases. If you are looking for a Southern California wrongful termination attorney, call Pimentel Law.
Take the next step: Give us a call today for a free consultation with an experienced retaliation and wrongful termination lawyer. California law may be complicated, but your path to getting compensation doesn’t have to be.
Schedule a free case evaluation, contact us today.
