Wrongful termination is a kind of an act that puts the professional future of an individual at stake. Many times, the one who is fired is unknown of the fact that his termination was unethical or illegal. But being an employee, you must know all sides of the story. Right from knowing your rights at the workplace to protecting them and when to seek legal consultation, you must know every little detail about it. And for that, you must talk to experienced wrongful termination attorneys in Los Angeles.
Getting fired on illegal or unethical terms such as racial discrimination or sexual harassment is extremely serious and if you have experienced it, you are eligible to file a wrongful termination lawsuit in court. But also, you must know that not every termination is wrongful as there are numerous things involved when an employee is fired. There are a lot of delusions that are there when it comes to wrongful termination. And here’s what the majority of the employees get wrong about ‘Wrongful Termination’.
#1 Every termination is ‘Wrongful Termination’
In the state of California, the majority of the employees have hired an ‘at-will’ basis, which means that they can be fired at any time and the employee can walk out any time. The employer can dismiss you for any little reason or no reason. In that case, if you are thinking that your firing was illegal, then you are completely wrong here. The only way you can file for a wrongful termination lawsuit is when if you have a signed contract between you and the employer stating that there should be a legal or ethical reason to fire you from the job, then you are eligible for a wrongful termination claim against the employer.
#2 The discrimination laws are only for female employees
If you were fired on the grounds of racial discrimination or sexual harassment and feel that these laws are only limited to female employees, then you need to know more about your workplace rights. Every single identity is protected under the workplace discrimination laws despite their race, religion, nationality, sex, marital status, etc. And that includes you as well. Therefore, if you were fired on those grounds, then you are eligible to file for a wrongful termination lawsuit.
#3 No possibility to prove that termination was unlawful retaliation
If you think that it is impossible to prove that your firing was an outcome of unlawful retaliation, then you are wrong. Instead of getting confused or lost, talk to a wrongful termination attorney as to how you can prove it. Your employer might hide the evidence and documents that reveal his acts, but if you keep a record by yourself by jotting down all the incidents that have happened with you at the workplace is surely going to help you in the case to file for wrongful termination claim.
#4 You can’t sue the employer if you quit
As per California law, you have the right to file for a wrongful termination claim even if you quit the job. This is because the working environment was too toxic and hostile and because of the unethical practices by the employer, you were left with no choice but to quit. And in this case, you can file a wrongful termination lawsuit with the help of an experienced attorney.
#5 Employer will be easy to negotiate as he has a reputation to maintain
Never expect that when you file for a wrongful termination claim, the employer will agree to a settlement quickly as he has a reputation to protect. If your proofs are not solid then be sure that you will have to fight a bit longer than your expectations.
Termination is hard and your whole career depends on it. But before you make any decisions, you must know what wrongful termination means and that can only happen when you consult one of the best wrongful termination attorneys in Los Angeles. An attorney will be able to tell you whether your case holds any weightage or not or whether it is eligible for a wrongful termination claim. Know all your options and then make the right decision.