There are a variety of ways that employees can experience a violation of their rights in the workplace. Some may be victims of discrimination or harassment, and others could receive punishment for exercising their rights or reporting misconduct. One of the ways that they may experience this type of punishment is through wrongful termination. This is any time an employer fires an employee for an unfounded, unfair or illegal reason. While intimidating, victims of this type of treatment do not have to remain silent.
If you believe that you are a victim of wrongful termination, there are steps you can take that will allow you to seek justice and fight for a beneficial outcome to your case. It is possible to hold your employer accountable for illegal actions, and you may also have grounds to pursue reasonable compensation through a civil claim. These cases are time-sensitive, and it is helpful to take quick action to boost your chance of a successful claim.
Why were you terminated?
Most employers hire people at-will, which means an employer can fire them at any time. However, there may be exceptions to this, including terminating an employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim, filing a complaint with human resources, reporting wrongdoing in the workplace and taking rightful maternity leave. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, most of the commonly cited reasons for wrongful termination relate to discrimination of some kind, including race or disability discrimination.
It is not always easy to determine if you are a victim of wrongful termination. You may find it helpful to discuss your concerns with someone who understands California employment laws, but it is also prudent to carefully document any experience you have that could indicate you experienced harassing or discriminatory treatment. The civil justice system provides you an option for seeking recourse and holding responsible parties accountable for wrongfully terminating you from your job.
Don’t navigate this process alone
If you suspect that you were wrongfully terminated, you do not have to walk through the aftermath alone. You will benefit from speaking with an experienced professional regarding the legal options available to you. You do not want to delay in pursuing recourse as important documentation could disappear, and it may be harder to seek a beneficial outcome.
