Your career is a crucial aspect of your life, providing not only financial stability but also personal fulfillment. When that stability is threatened by wrongful termination, it can have a devastating impact on your livelihood. Wrongful termination occurs when an employer dismisses an employee without a valid or legal reason. If you suspect that your recent termination was unjust, a workers compensation lawyer in Bellflower can help review the circumstances and explore the legal options available to you. With the help of a skilled attorney, you can fight for your rights and seek compensation for the wrongful loss of your job.
At Canlas Law Group, we are always standing by and are ready to help any alleged victims of wrongful termination in Bellflower, CA. Our deep understanding of employment law allows us to explore wrongful termination accusations through a more comprehensive lens than the average California citizen could. If we believe you have a case, we will help collect enough evidence to fight against your employer and help you achieve the outcome you are looking for.
If someone believes they were fired for an illegal reason, they should connect with an attorney to see if their experience qualifies for a wrongful termination case. Some reasons for a claim of wrongful termination include:
When an employee is terminated due to protected characteristics, such as their race, gender, or sexual orientation, they have the right to pursue a wrongful termination case. This is because it is illegal to fire someone purely based on personal qualities that have been historically discriminated against and have no impact on their work output. For example, someone with a positive performance record is terminated after disclosing their sexual orientation.
When someone is fired after engaging in any legally protected activity, they could claim they have been a victim of retaliation. Some common examples of retaliation in the workplace include reporting that a manager has engaged in illegal activity, filing a complaint about witnessing an act of discrimination, or participating in a legal investigation or lawsuit against the company. For example, when an employee is fired after reporting a violation to OSHA.
A public policy violation can occur if an employee is terminated for refusing to participate in an illegal activity or misconduct. For example, if an employee refused a manager’s request to falsify documents or was let go for exercising a legal right like reporting to jury duty. California courts recognize that an employee should not be penalized for following legal and ethical standards, which can make a strong case to pursue a wrongful termination case against your employer.
When someone accepts a new role, there are different employment contracts they either agree to or are stated in the company’s policies. Sometimes, an employee might be fired for a reason that is in direct violation of the terms of their employment agreement. For instance, if an employee contract states that they can only be fired for a specific reason, like poor performance or financial necessity, anything outside of these conditions could qualify as wrongful termination.
When an employee was not directly fired but felt compelled to leave due to unbearable working conditions, this describes an example of constructive discharge. This can occur if an employer has intentionally created a hostile work environment to try and get an employee to leave because they don’t have a compelling reason to fire them. For example, the employer could encourage sexual harassment or change job duties to be unnecessarily grueling.
While these are not the only reasons someone may be wrongfully terminated, they are some of the most common cases found in Bellflower. If you suspect you might be a victim of wrongful termination, connect with an employment law attorney to begin your legal investigations.
There isn’t a universal average settlement cost that someone can use to estimate how much they receive in their own case. All cases depend on the circumstances that are brought forth by both the plaintiff and defendant for consideration. Some common factors that influence the settlement total include the gravity of the misconduct, if new employment was obtained after being fired, or how much lost wages are owed to the victim.
While at-will employees are generally able to be fired without explanation, there are still instances that would qualify as illegal termination. For example, someone being let go due to discrimination against a protected characteristic is still an unlawful firing decision. Unfortunately, sometimes, these illegal acts are disguised as a “poor performance” termination rationale. These cases require a skilled employment attorney to uncover the truth.
In most instances, a plaintiff will have one year to make a claim for wrongful termination from the date of the incident in California. Some exceptions may exist depending on the circumstances of the case. For example, if discrimination was at play, this statute would extend to two years. This is why it is crucial to connect with an employment attorney as soon as you can to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines or for a chance to maximize your compensation.
There are many different factors that will influence the final cost of having an employment attorney work on your case. The level of case complexity and years of experience your attorney brings are two of the most influential factors. In addition to the total cost, also consider what payment method would be the most helpful to you. Some clients pay attorneys by the hour, while others might prefer to work with someone who charges per service or uses a retainer.
If you suspect that you might have been impacted by a wrongful termination decision or have questions about workers’ compensation, connect with the employment law attorneys of Canlas Law Group today. For years, we have represented clients who fell victim to this unlawful behavior to help restore their roles and secure compensation for all the damage it had caused. Contact us today to begin the process and see the difference Canlas Law Group can make.