Helping Wrongfully Terminated Employees in California
Employees have rights in the workplace, and when employers directly or indirectly fire people in violation of those rights, employees deserve compensation.
At Williams, Pinelli & Cullen, LLP, in San Jose, our attorneys help employees in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area who have been subjected to wrongful termination by their employers. Contact us to discuss your case.
Opposing Unlawful Discrimination and Retaliation
Workplace discrimination is illegal under both California and federal law. Sex, race, disability and age discrimination in the workplace are all prohibited by law. If you believe you were discharged or otherwise discriminated against because of any of these factors, we may be able to get you compensation.
If you have been forced to quit your job due to discriminatory harassment, or you have faced retaliation for reporting what you believed to be an illegal behavior, you may also have a wrongful termination case. Being subjected to retaliation or being put in a hostile work environment, this is considered "constructive discharge" and may be treated by the court as a case of wrongful termination. These are, for instance, common circumstances in sexual harassment cases.
Retaliation against employees for any sort of legally protected activity — such as reporting harassment — is also illegal in and of itself, even if nothing comes of the allegations that lead to the retaliation.
If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, contact us to discuss your potential remedies with an experienced lawyer.
Enforcing Employment Contracts and Policies
In California, employment contracts that do not require the employer to follow any specific dismissal process are considered "at-will"; the employer can terminate the employee at any time, except for reasons of illegal discrimination or retaliation.
If you have an employment contract that does give you more rights in the dismissal process, however, you may be able to challenge a wrongful termination as a breach of contract.
At Williams, Pinelli & Cullen, LLP, we are experienced at dealing with employment contract disputes and can assess your employer's policies and procedures to determine whether they may be accepted by the court as an enforceable contract.
