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California Employment Law Glossary

At-Will Employment
Wrongful Termination

 

Definition


 

California is an at-will employment state - meaning employers can generally terminate employees at any time, for any reason, or for no stated reason. However, at-will employment does not permit illegal firings. Employers cannot terminate an employee because of their race, gender, disability, religion, age, or other protected characteristic, nor can they fire an employee for exercising a legal right such as reporting wage theft or taking protected leave.


Frequently Asked Questions

No. While employers can fire at-will employees without cause, they cannot fire you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination or retaliation for exercising a legal right.

The main exceptions cover firings motivated by discrimination, retaliation, or violation of public policy - such as being fired for reporting wage theft, taking protected leave, or refusing to break the law.

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At-will doesn't mean unlimited. A free case review can determine whether your termination crossed a legal line.
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This glossary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with Lawyers for Employee and Consumer Rights. Laws change - for advice specific to your situation, contact our office for a free case review.