Wrongful termination refers to incidents when employees are fired or laid off for unlawful reasons. Employment is generally at will in California and throughout the nation, which means that either the employer or the employee can terminate the employment contract for any reason or for no reason. Employers cannot, however, break the law in the process. Wrongful termination claims tend to be legally challenging, and because the stakes are high, working with an experienced San Rafael wrongful termination lawyer is in your best interest.
The term wrongful termination in California refers to firing or laying off an employee for a reason that isn’t upheld by the law, which includes all the following:
Terminations that are related to the employee being part of a protected class are covered by the Fair Employment and Housing Act, which includes classifications based on the following:
Being wrongfully terminated can lead to serious financial – and even emotional – losses that are addressed by the law. These damages break down into the following basic categories:
If the wrongful termination causes you to experience verifiable emotional pain, you can also seek compensation for emotional distress. The fact that many of us closely associate our careers with our sense of personal accomplishment can compound the emotional consequences of wrongful termination.Â
Finally, if your employer’s actions were particularly egregious in relation to your wrongful termination, the court may order punitive damages. This amount is designed to punish the employer and to dissuade other employers from engaging in similar practices rather than to compensate the employee.Â
If you’ve been wrongfully terminated, Jeannette Vaccaro at The Law Office of Jeannette A. Vaccaro in San Rafael has the experience and drive to fiercely advocate for an outcome that honors your rights and works for you. Learn more by contacting us today.
Jeannette is passionate about employee rights. She fights to shed light on injustices and to help her clients move beyond troubling times. Contact Jeannette today for a free case evaluation.
Settlement achieved on behalf of an employee who was discriminated against on account of his age.
Arbitration award in race harassment and discrimination suit.
Arbitration award obtained on behalf of employee terminated on account of his national origin.
Jury verdict obtained on behalf of long-term employee in suit for unpaid wages.
Settlement for employee that was retaliated against on account of reporting discrimination.
Settlement for employee discriminated against on account of her gender and age.
Pre-litigation settlement for victim of race & national origin discrimination.
Settlement negotiated in a gender discrimination case.