Irvine Wrongful Termination Attorneys

Taking Action Against Illegal Employer Behavior

There are many reasons why an employer may choose to terminate an employee. These can include poor job performance or breaking the company's rules listed in the handbook. However, sometimes employers will fire an employee for wrongful or illegal reasons.

Wrongful termination is the act of an employer firing or ending a contract with an employee in a way that violates state laws, and/or violates their contract of employment. If you believe that you have been wrongfully terminated from your job, reach out to an attorney from our firm for assistance.

What Qualifies as Wrongful Termination in California?

In California, most employees are hired on an "at-will" basis. While some people think this means an employer can fire the employee at any time, for any reason, this is not true. There are still legal guidelines employers must follow when terminating an employee.

At-will employees must be treated fairly in regards to termination. An employee cannot be terminated due to their:

• Disability
• Gender identity
• Age
• Political affiliation
• Religious affiliation
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy
• Military or veteran status
• Marital status
• Nation of origin

It is also illegal to terminate an employee for filing a complaint about discrimination or sexual harassment. Additionally, employees cannot be terminated for acting as a whistleblower.