There are strict laws in place so that employers cannot unjustly fire their employees. If you think you are a victim of wrongful termination then you can take legal action against your employer. But you will need to make sure you are taking the right action. So, it is important to know about the laws related to wrongful termination in your state.
Wrongful termination laws can differ from state to state; even from one city to another within the same state. So, if you live in Los Angeles, it is important that you consult with good wrongful termination lawyers in Los Angeles itself. Otherwise, you may end up with incorrect information about wrongful termination laws.
Here are some circumstances when you need to consult with a wrongful termination lawyer.
Protected Categories
If you think you were fired from your job due to your race, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender, or pregnancy then you should definitely consult with a lawyer. These are termed as protected categories under the law and your employer cannot fire you based on these grounds. If you feel this is the case with you then a wrongful termination lawyer can help you.
Harassment
If you were fired after you threatened to sue the company or the employer (post your sexual harassment) then you have grounds to take legal action. If you face any sort of mental or emotional harassment in the workplace, you can take legal action to protect your job or for your well-being.
Harassment of any kind can be a complex issue if it occurs in the workplace. Oftentimes; it is difficult to prove sexual harassment. So, before you take any action against the employer or supervisor or threaten them in any way; it is prudent to consult with a lawyer first. With proper legal action, you can fight the injustice done against you. But you will need sound legal guidance for it. An experienced wrongful termination lawyer can help you out greatly in this type of situation.
Opposing Discriminatory Policies
If you oppose a discriminatory policy in your organization and get fired for it; you can definitely sue your employer. A wrongful termination lawyer can help you understand the nitty-gritty of the situation after hearing the specifics of your case.
Retaliation
If you feel you were fired due to some sort of retaliation from your employer’s side then you should consult with a lawyer to know about what legal options.
Retaliation can be for any action on your part such as threats to reveal the company’s unlawful activities or discriminatory policies. If you witness sexual harassment of a co-worker and you threaten to take action, your employer can fire you in retaliation. Perhaps your supervisor favored someone else over you despite your performance is better than the other employee. Perhaps then you decided to take some sort of action such as threaten them with a lawsuit. If you were fired in retaliation in such a situation, you can definitely sue your employer.
A lawyer can help you by explaining the right legal procedure in this regard.
Other Circumstances
Independent contractors cannot sue for wrongful termination due to the non-existence of employer-employee relationship. But you can sue your employer if you were misclassified as an independent contractor and wrongfully terminated too.
Depending on your location, you will only be able to sue your employer and not the supervisor for your wrongful termination. But you can bring other claims against the supervisor if those pertain to your case and otherwise too. A lawyer can help you understand the process and guide you towards the right legal action.
If you feel you have been terminated from your job without just cause then it is best to consult with a lawyer. Oftentimes; in such situations, the reason for the termination is cited as lack of performance. If this is untrue then you can bring a claim for wrongful termination against your employer. A good wrongful termination lawyer can help you by offering you sound legal advice. Then you can take the right legal action with your lawyer by your side.