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California Employment Law Glossary

Wrongful Termination Definition
Wrongful Termination

 

Definition


 

Wrongful termination means being fired for a reason prohibited by California or federal law - such as discrimination, retaliation, or violation of public policy. While California is an at-will employment state, that at-will doctrine has significant exceptions. If your termination was connected to a protected characteristic, a complaint you made, or a right you exercised, you may have a viable wrongful termination claim.


Frequently Asked Questions

A firing qualifies as wrongful termination if it was motivated by discrimination, retaliation for a protected activity, or a violation of public policy - even though California is generally an at-will state.

Yes, in most cases. California's at-will doctrine allows employers to fire employees without stating a reason, but they still cannot fire you for an illegal reason, even if they don't say so out loud.

Think this applies to you?

If your firing felt wrong, it may have been illegal. Get a free case review and find out whether you have a claim under California law.
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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.