If you live in the Santa Clarita area and work for a business, it’s vital to understand your employment law rights. An experienced Santa Clarita employment lawyer can assist you in understanding your legal rights and ensuring that you are treated fairly by your employer.
Our wrongful Termination Attorney in Santa Clarita, CA protects employees’ right to work in an inclusive, safe and fair environment is a fundamental right guaranteed to all Santa Clarita workers. No matter where you work or what you do, you are entitled to the expectation of a workplace free of hostility and unlawful conduct. Attorney Mohamed Eldessouky is anemployment lawyer experienced at litigatingcommon workplace violations that workers face in Santa Clarita, CA. For almost a decade, he has protected the rights of workers in this city and helped them hold irresponsible employers accountable in the Santa Clarita Courthouse.
California employment laws safeguard the rights of employees and protect them from unfair and unsafe workplace conditions. Our employment law firm tirelessly works on behalf of employees in this city to prevent and correct wrongful termination, retaliation and the dangers of a hostile work environment. Whether you are facing wage and hour violations or discrimination at work, know that you can count on Eldessouky Law for assistance. Talk to our Santa Monica, CA employment law attorney today. We will help you understand your rights and how to proceed against your employer for the harm you have suffered.
If you have questions about your rights as an employee in California or wish to discuss your case confidentially with one of our experienced California employment attorneys, contact our office at 714-409-8991 or fill out one of our contact forms online.
When Does Wrongful Termination Occur in California?
Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired for reasons that are unlawful or against public policy. Ordinarily, an employer has a right to decide who they want to hire and also fire them as circumstances demand. But the law draws a line at firing (or even refusing to hire) an employee for unlawful reasons.
Some of these unlawful reasons include firing an employee for discriminatory reasons, including because of their age, sex, race or disability. It is also illegal to fire an employee in violation of their rights to fair wages, lawful association or political activity. Your employer cannot also fire you because you undertook a protected activity such as reporting a violation of rights at work. There are many other instances where termination will be wrongful. You can read more on this below.
3 Steps to Take if You Suspect You Were Wrongfully Terminated
Although the law is clear on when termination is illegal, it can often be difficult to tell if you have been wrongfully terminated. This is because most people that break the law know that their actions are wrong and they try to cover up by being indirect, where possible. To tell if you were wrongfully terminated, take these three steps immediately:
- Identify the reasons and circumstances for termination: What was the justification given for the termination? Sometimes, this can be a front for deeper and unlawful reasons. If this is the case, consider the circumstances that surround your termination. Did you recently make a complaint about insufficient protective equipment in the workplace?
- See if they are illegal: If the circumstances or reasons point to a specific motivation for the termination, your next step should be to assess its legality. If the termination was for reasons that are not purely connected to your employment, then it may be illegal.
- Contact a lawyer: An attorney will be able to listen to your story and help you understand how the law applies to your situation. They will then help you understand your options and how you can enforce your rights.
Committed Santa Clarita, CA Wrongful Termination Attorneys
Eldessouky Law proudly represents employees throughout LA County, including Santa Clarita, CA. It is important to us that workers in this city have a reliable source when they need to understand their workplace rights and enforce them.
Employerscannot simply do as they wish when it concerns the rights and welfare of their employees. When they fail in their responsibilities towards our clients, it is our duty to correct the situation and hold them accountable.
Top Employers in Santa Clarita, CA
With more than 212,000 residents, Santa Clarita is the 3rd largest city in LA County and the 23rd largest in California. The flourishing city has a diverse range of businesses that provide great employment opportunities for its residents.
Some of the largest employers in Santa Clarita, CA include:
- Six Flags Magic Mountain: 3,200 employees
- Princess Cruises: 2,096 employees
- Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital: 2,052 employees
- Boston Scientific: 1,000 employees
- The Master’s University: 760 employees
- Walmart: 730 employees
- California Institute of the Arts: 700 employees
- Woodward HRT: 680 employees
- Quest Diagnostics: 648 employees
- Aerospace Dynamics International: 617 employees
California laws require employers to create safe and inclusive work environments. If your employer is falling short of this duty, our employment law attorney in Santa Clarita can hold them responsible for you.
Eldessouky Law Practice Areas in Santa Clarita, CA
Our employment law practice areas in Santa Clarita are focused on providing legal guidance and representation for common workplace violations employees in this city face.
These practice areas include:
- Discrimination
- Hostile work environment
- Severance agreements, terms, and enforcement
- Sexual harassment
- Wage and hour cases, including overtime pay discrepancy claims
- Wrongful termination, including retaliation cases, including whistleblower claims
Our services include a free case review to help you understand your rights and how the labor laws protect you. If your employer has broken any of these laws, our trial attorneys have the experience and skill to help you recover fair compensation.
Can your employer terminate your employment at will?
Employment in California is generally presumed to be “at-will”. This means that employers are entitled to terminate workers for any reason, or no reason at all. They are not required to justify their actions and will be legally correct even if their reason is bad, unwise or even unfair. California Jury Instructions CACI 2513.
But, there is a limit to how far employers can carry this. An employer cannot terminate an employee for any reason that is contrary to provisions of law or public policy. This includes terminating an employee for:
- Discriminatory purposes. This includes discrimination on the basis of:
- Age (over 40)
- Ancestry, national origin
- Disability, mental and physical
- Gender identity or gender expression
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Medical condition
- Military and veteran status
- Race, color
- Religion, creed
- Sex or gender
- Sexual orientation
- Retaliatory reasons including:
- Complaints about workplace safety
- For whistleblowing activity
- Reporting violation of rights at work
- Testifying at a hearing
- Reasons that violate statutes including
- The California Family Rights Act
- Tax Code and Anti-Trust laws
When termination occurs for any of these reasons, it is regarded as wrongful termination and is actionable. This means you may be entitled to file a complaint or lawsuit for compensation against your employer.
What compensation can you expect in a wrongful termination lawsuit?
When a wrongful termination complaint has been successfully proved, you will be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffered. This compensation will usually include:
- Back pay over the period when you were out of work
- Benefits that should have accrued to you over the period
- Damages for emotional distress or suffering
- Attorney fees
- Punitive damages
- Reinstatement, although this is only in limited cases
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to all of this or even more. It all depends on the specific wrongs you have suffered and how well your attorney is able to present your case.
Reach out to our experienced Employment Attorneys in Santa Clarita, CA Today
If you would like to start the process of enforcing your rights against unlawful conduct at work, contact our employment attorney in Santa Clarita today. Call us at 714-409-8991 for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
