Every state has different regulations that apply to employment relationships. California tends to have policies that prioritize worker rights. However, California is also an at-will employment state. Regulations related to at-will employment prevent companies from punishing workers for quitting without notice. The same regulations also allow employers to fire workers for any lawful cause or no specific cause at all.
Does the ability of an employer to terminate a worker for any reason prevent a frustrated professional from pursuing a wrongful termination lawsuit?
Employers can still break the law in at-will states
The ability to terminate a worker without giving a specific reason or providing advance notice does not completely eliminate the potential for abusive employment practices. Businesses still have to comply with federal and state regulations when making employment determinations. Decisions that are either retaliatory or discriminatory can leave companies at risk of wrongful termination lawsuits.
Discriminatory firings target workers based on their protected characteristics. If a supervisor routinely complains about needing to provide religious accommodations for an employee and then fires them without reason, the worker may have reason to believe they experienced discrimination. Any decision made based on protected characteristics could be discriminatory and therefore illegal.
Employers might also retaliate unfairly against employees. Workers who have attempted to unionize, requested unpaid leave for medical reasons or reported safety violations should not have to worry about facing punishment from their employers. Retaliation involves making negative career decisions because an employee engaged in protected workplace activities.
Any firing that a worker can credibly claim was retaliatory or discriminatory may have been wrongful. Reviewing the circumstances surrounding a recent termination with a skilled legal team can help an employee determine what options they may have for holding their employer accountable for unlawful conduct.