Nobody likes to lose their job. Unfortunately, there is a legal presumption that employees are employed “at will,” which means that you can be let go for good cause, bad cause or no cause at all. There are only a handful of exceptions to the employment-at-will rule. Under California law, you cannot be terminated, demoted or otherwise adversely treated because of your race, sex, marital status, color, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or age.

In addition, it is unlawful for an employer to subject an employee to an adverse employment action in retaliation for engaging in a wide range of protected activities, such as: filing a charge of discrimination against your employer, suing your employer, testifying against your employer, opposing certain illegal employer practices, taking FMLA or CFRA protected medical leave or taking time off of work to attend jury duty. If you have been terminated and believe that the termination was for some illegal reason, please contact us.