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In most instances, employers can terminate a working relationship at any time, including laying off employees due to reorganization, downsizing, bankruptcy, or for no reason at all. However, it is unlawful to be terminated because of your race, religion, gender, or national origin or for engaging in a protected activity. If you have been terminated for any of these reasons, you may have sufficient grounds to sue your employer for wrongful termination. Some recoverable damages in a wrongful termination suit include reinstatement, back pay, front pay, and compensatory and emotional distress damages.
Our California wrongful termination attorneys help our clients understand what exactly constitutes wrongful termination. Many times, employees do not realize they’ve been the target of unlawful discrimination or wrongful termination. Regardless of the employer’s stated reason for termination, employees may have been the victim of wrongful termination based on what has actually transpired in the workplace. The following are some of the grounds upon which wrongful termination lawsuits often arise:
Sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace is a serious issue. The #MeToo movement has publicized what many women have been experiencing for ages. Unfortunately, sexual harassment continues to be a problem, and there are no signs that it is becoming less prevalent or pervasive in the workplace. Our attorneys have years of experience in dealing with sexual harassment cases for both men and women.
In fact, the recent notoriety is the direct result of women finally having the confidence and security to speak up against their abusers. Executives and individuals in supervisory positions often engage in sexualy illicit conduct or make advances towards employees. Although sexual harassment is not limited to a male (supervisor/executive) and female (employee) relationships, the most prevalent sexual harassment type acts are committed by male executives, supervisors, and co-workers against female employees. This is especially true with young women, who often find themselves in very vulnerable positions. They are often caught off guard by their desire to advance in their chosen career and the trust they place in more experienced and connected male colleagues. However, no female should ever be forced to tolerate or submit to inappropriate or degrading sexual acts and advances against them.
If you were fired, demoted, denied a promotion, or subjected to other adverse employment actions because you refused the sexual advances of a colleague, reported him/her after he/she sexually harassed you (physically or verbally), or suffered retaliation after your refusal, then you are likely the victim of sexual harassment. If you are someone who has witnessed or been subjected to such misdoings, you should immediately contact West Coast Employment Lawyers. Similarly, if you decided to report such acts and lost your job after doing so, call us immediately for a free case evaluation.
California has one of the largest and most diverse populations in the world. The state attracts talent from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. The vast majority of California employers welcome such diversity. Unfortunately, some do not. National Origin means the country where a person was born; the country from which his or her ancestors came; or the display of physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a particular national group. If you believe you were treated differently or terminated because of your national origin, you may have a case for wrongful termination.
The United States is a land of religious freedom and tolerance. The religion you practice is your own affair. In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) reported that 7.2% of wrongful termination cases are related to the religious beliefs of the aggrieved employee. Everyone has the right to practice any religion, and employers have a duty to foster a workplace free of religious discrimination.
Religious discrimination cases usually arise from the employer denying the employee the right to engage in religious practices (e.g., Jehovah’s witness not allowed to wear jean skirts, Muslim woman not allowed to wear hijab, Jewish men not allowed to wear a yamaka, etc.). Contact a wrongful termination lawyer immediately if you were fired based on your religious affiliation and practices.
If you are fit, healthy, and able to do your job, you cannot be fired because you are above the age of 40. To cut costs in the areas of pay, benefits, and pensions, some companies have resorted to laying off older, more experienced employees in favor of younger workers. If you suspect that your termination is based on your age, then you should seek the advice and counsel of one of our experienced California wrongful termination attorneys.
If you engaged in a protected activity, such as complaining about not being paid all your wages, reported it, and were fired because of this, then your termination was likely illegal, and you should contact us right away.
The key to winning such a case is producing convincing evidence that supports your claim. You must begin collecting this evidence from the very first moment you suspect something is wrong. Here are some of the things you can do to strengthen your case:
Employers are not likely to be open about their wrongdoings. It is important to preserve all emails, letters, voice message, and text messages from your abuser. They may be crucial evidence in your case
Our lawyers will immediately request your complete employment and pay records. This will allow your lawyer to review all the documents related to the case and examine internal communications between your immediate superior and others. Other documents such as counseling forms and emails between the person who has abused you and others can also be requested and examined.
One of the key facts to determine with the help of these documents is a pattern and timeline. If you can discern a pattern that suggests certain groups of people have been demoted and fired, then you may be able to prove that your employer has been engaging in unlawful behavior.
Lawsuits are a matter of public record. If your previous employer has been sued before for wrongful termination, a record likely exists and can be obtained. A knowledgeable employment lawyer will obtain this documentation on your behalf. If the company was involved in a number of wrongful termination suits in the past, it may be evidence that it has a culture of racism, misogyny, or intolerance in the workplace.
Being wrongfully terminated is frightening, unjust, and economically devastating. If you believe that you lost your job because of the way you look, the religion you practice, or the justified act of reporting illegal, immoral, or wrongful activities, then reach out to the wrongful termination lawyers at West Coast Employment Lawyers. Our experienced team will help and guide you through every step of your case. We will fight for your justice and help you obtain maximum compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay us if we get compensation for you. You can reach our legal team 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-247-9235 or emailing [email protected].
This firm was extremely professional! The took over the entire process for us, from beginning to end… I'm not sure what I was expecting but they were fantastic. They helped us make the right decisions and got us great settlements. My mom doesn't have a yelp account but trust me, I speak for both of us when I say I highly recommend their services.
Neama and Allen are awesome lawyers and handled my case as if it was their own. If you are searching for attentive, aggressive, and compassionate lawyers, this is the law firm you need to go with! Their entire team is so professional and never had me questioning their work…Thank you to everyone who helped me get through this tough time of my life.
I want to give a huge THANK YOU to the whole West Coast Employment Lawyers team for all your attention, help, support, dedication, professionalism, and RESULTS... you guys made the entire experience from start to finish easy, simple, and confusion free. I will recommend you guys to anyone I know that needs a lawyer.