Nothing can be more frustrating for an employee than to lose his or her job for no valid reason. Unfortunately, employees in California and across the United States wrongfully terminate employees on a regular basis. In these situations, employees have the right to file a wrongful termination claim if they believe the termination was due to retaliation or sexual harassment.
While wrongful termination situations might seem relatively straightforward, there are several common wrongful termination myths employees may have. For example, some employees may be under the impression that any termination that seems unreasonable falls under the wrongful termination category legally. However, if you work in a state where the ruling principle is that you’re an “employee at will,” your employer can fire you at any moment for any reason.
Another wrongful termination myth is that only minorities are protected by workplace discrimination laws. The reality is that anyone can be discriminated against in the workplace. For that reason, any employee who is terminated because of a medical condition, disability, race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation is entitled to file a wrongful termination claim.
Many employees also falsely believe that if they quit their jobs due to an issue like a hostile working environment or dangerous conditions, they won’t be able to sue their employers. The truth is that even when employees are coerced into quitting their jobs by their employers, they might be able to file wrongful termination claims.
Being wrongfully terminated can cause long-lasting difficulties for any employee, ranging from emotional problems to financial upheaval. If you feel that you’ve been wrongfully terminated from your job, consider seeking the guidance of an experienced wrongful termination attorney. An attorney may be able to help you recover some of your losses and understand your rights as an employee.
