Was Your Termination Legal? 10 Examples of Wrongful Termination

You were recently fired, but was your termination even legal? If your employer lets you go for reasons that violate statutory protections or public policy, they broke the law and may be subject to heavy penalties under California law.

At LNN, our lawyers possess the legal expertise and aggressive litigation strategy required to secure the compensation you deserve. Read on to discover 10 examples of wrongful termination and learn how our litigation team can protect your rights.

Ten Examples of Wrongful Termination Under California Statutes

California law enforces strict statutory limits that prohibit employers from executing arbitrary dismissals. When a corporation fires you in direct violation of state regulations, the termination crosses the line from unfair to entirely illegal. Our lawyers have compiled these 10 examples of wrongful termination to help you determine if your employer violated your legal rights, including:

1. Discrimination: Under Government Code § 12940, employers cannot dismiss you based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
2. Retaliation: Labor Code § 1102.5 explicitly prohibits organizations from terminating you for whistleblowing or reporting illegal workplace activities.
3. Protected Leave: Your right to job-protected medical leave is legally guaranteed by the California Family Rights Act under Government Code § 12945.2.
4. Breach of Contract: A valid employment agreement overrides at-will status under Labor Code § 2922, making premature termination a contractual violation.
5. Wage and Hour Claims: Firing you for requesting proper overtime pay or meal breaks violates Labor Code § 98.6.
6. Workers’ Compensation: Employers cannot legally discharge you for filing an injury claim, pursuant to Labor Code § 132a.
7. Jury Duty: Labor Code § 230 protects your employment when you take time off to fulfill your civic duties.
8. Non-Compete Refusal: Terminating you for refusing to sign an unlawful non-compete clause violates Business and Professions Code § 16600.
9. Workplace Safety: Reporting hazardous conditions to Cal/OSHA protects you from retaliatory discharge under Labor Code § 6310.
10. Political Activities: Labor Code § 1101 prevents employers from controlling or terminating you for your off-duty political participation.

Whether a termination is unlawful depends on the specific facts, the reason for the termination, and the protections that apply to your circumstances.

The Strict Boundaries of a Lawful Discharge

Many corporations falsely believe that California’s at-will employment rules grant them absolute power to fire you without consequences. That assumption is entirely incorrect. While Labor Code § 2922 establishes a baseline for at-will employment, state and federal regulations place strict boundaries on when an employer can legally sever a relationship.

This means that executives cannot use at-will status as a shield to disguise illegal behavior or mask systemic bias. If a company oversteps these boundaries, they violate the law. Our lawyers refuse to let corporate entities bully workers or exploit legal loopholes.

How Our Litigation Team Will Fight For You

Corporate entities will deploy immense legal resources to justify your unlawful dismissal, but our lawyers possess the trial experience required to defeat them. Our firm aggressively prosecutes companies that violate California labor laws to recover your maximum compensation.

You do not have to confront any of these 10 examples of violations alone. Contact LNN immediately to force your employer to face the consequences of a wrongful termination.