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August 1st, 2006 
James PetersThe term "Wrongful Termination" encompasses many things with regard to California Employment law. At its broadest, this means any termination that is illegal under state or federal law. In its narrowest use, it means terminations that violate California's "public policy" and which courts have ruled are an illegal basis for termination.
In California, this doctrine has been widely expanded by courts and provided employees extra protections that are far too numerous to detail here. In a very narrow "nutshell," some general things which suggest a termination might be wrongful include:
- You were terminated for refusing to do something illegal;
- You were terminated for doing something California or federal law gives you the right to do;
- You were terminated for complaining about something at work;
- You were terminated for complaining to a third party about your employer;
- You were terminated for reasons that just do not "feel" right; or
- The reasons you were given for your termination just do not make any sense and seems to be a "cover up" for another reason.
If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, we invite you to contact us today for a free consultation to discuss this and any other employment law questions you might have.
Our employee rights attorneys practice employment law and only represent employees not employers and we are committed to enforcing your rights as an employee. We also offer competitive fees, including contingency fee arrangements in most cases.
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I worked for a company from Dec 1997 to July 2009. I took a vacation from July 10 to 22, 2009, and trained someone the company hired from craigslist to replace me while I was gone. On July 21, I noticed someone accessed my work e-mail and forwarded an e-mail to the owner. I therefore looked on craigslist to see if he had placed another ad. He had. On July 22 he e-mailed to tell me that due to work slow down I was being laid off. When I went in July 23 to get my checks, there was a man named Leo that had been hired to replace me. I was the highest paid person in the company, and I'm sure Leo is being paid less than I was. It took me 11 years to get to the pay rate I had. Is this wrongful termination?
I had just stared working for Home Depot.I was terminated due to a safety violation. I was following the practice that was the standard for the store. Another Home depot employee that did not work in the store noticed this practice, complained and myself along with a 11 year veteran were terminated for this incident.I wrote a statement prior to my termination for thr district Loss Prevention officer staing that this was the normal practice that was used in the store. I believe that I was terminated due to this statement so the management could cover themselves. I have other employees willing to write statements that that practica that I was adhering to was the norm and had been in practice long before I was hired. Is this wrongful termination?
20 years with same company. On taking my return to work drug test, 6/17/10 I tested positive for THC. However I was put to work on 6/20 and the test results did not come back until 6/23. My employer told me I had a chioce do nothing or participate in a couseling program which cost me 1200.00 dollars. Iwas asked by company to keep them updated on my status and upon recieving my completion letter, sent them a copy and was expecting to retun to work. After a few weeks of visits and phone calls I have not been back to work. When I was offered this option it was with the understsnding Iwould be reinstated. I completed
the program on August 7, 2010. Also, I recieved a termination letter stating as of 6/29/10, which seemed odd. I called to ask about this letter and was told (WE HAD TO DO THAT). This to seemed an odd comment. Anyway I have talked to two seperate supervisers, each stating that he has not heard from the other. Am I sol or do Ihave any recouse action.
I interviewed for a job a few months ago. 3 weeks ago on april 29th they schedule me for a second interview and offer me the job. I fill up all of the application including background check. I stated to the employer that I do have a record from 2002 but the form said they go back only for 7 years so he said don't worry about it. I gave my former employer a 2 weeks notice and started the new job on May 16th. On Friday morning of May 20th I was told by the boss that they have to let me go because of the background check. Is this a legal practice to hire someone before finishing the background check? Instead of doing a 7 year background check they did a ten year check. that is not what it says in the application. He is saying that their warehouse is bonded and they do check every year and I can't work for them if I have a felony. I wish I was told about this before I quit my other job.