Common Examples of Wrongful Termination

There are many different kinds of termination in California. Some types are illegal and could lead to a wrongful termination lawsuit. If you’re not sure which types of terminations are wrongful, keep reading.

Discrimination

If you’re terminated because of your race, color, national origin, religion or stereotypes, such as the belief that older workers cannot learn new job skills, you have the right to sue your employer for wrongful termination. In many workplaces, it is against the law to discriminate based on any of these characteristics.

Employers are not allowed to fire you because of your gender, pregnancy or disability either. For example, it’s wrong for an employer to fire a woman for getting pregnant.

Whistleblowing

You’re protected from employer retaliation if you try to expose a company’s illegal behavior or violation of public policy. This includes reporting on unsafe work conditions, environmental hazards and cover-ups that involve the health and safety of employees or customers. In some cases, your employer may not be aware there is something wrong occurring within the organization. In this case, you shouldn’t get punished for reporting it.

Retaliation

If you’re terminated in response to your opposition of an employer’s discriminatory practices, you may have a wrongful termination case. For example, if your boss fires you for complaining about the company’s sexual harassment policies or for filing a workers’ compensation claim, you could have the grounds to sue.

Wage and hour violations

If you’re fired for complaining about minimum wage violations, working overtime without compensation or similar issues, then your employer may be guilty of wrongful termination. In some cases, your employer may not be aware of the law. In this case, you shouldn’t get punished for pointing out a mistake.

There are many other reasons for wrongful termination, but you get the idea. If you feel like your employer has violated your legal rights, it’s important to know the steps you can take to protect yourself.