Oakmont Senior Living Wrongful Termination | My Legal Rights in California

Working at a senior center can be incredibly rewarding. Senior center employees often make a significant difference in the lives of older adults and play a crucial role in the community by providing them with a safe and nurturing environment. Knowing this, most senior center employees actively want to work and thrive on helping the people who’ve come to rely on them. So what happens when a wrongful termination blindsides a faithful employee? California law provides numerous recourses and remedies depending on the reason for the wrongful termination.

If you believe you’re the victim of an Oakmont senior living wrongful termination, keep reading to learn more about your legal rights, how you can protect yourself, and how the attorneys at Lawyers for Justice, PC can help. Then contact us and let our skilled advocates fight for your hard-earned workplace rights.

What Is an Oakmont Senior Living Wrongful Termination?

Wrongful termination, also known as wrongful dismissal or wrongful discharge, occurs when an employer terminates an employee in violation of their legal rights, an employment agreement, or public policies. Here are several examples.

Violation of Anti-Discrimination Laws

Under both federal and state laws, it is illegal to fire an employee based on protected characteristics such as race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For example, suppose an employer terminates an employee solely because they are over 40. This act would constitute age discrimination and, thus, wrongful termination under anti-discrimination laws like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Retaliation

Federal and state law protects California employees from termination as a form of retaliation for engaging in legally protected activities. These activities can include:

Whistleblowing—reporting illegal activities or safety violations within the company;
Filing complaints—lodging complaints about harassment, discrimination, or unsafe working conditions; and
Participating in investigations—being involved in investigations or lawsuits against the employer.

If an employer fires an employee for these reasons, it is considered wrongful termination.

Breach of Contract

Wrongful termination can occur if an employer breaches an employment contract’s terms. These terms can be written, oral, or implied. For example:

Written contracts—if an employee has a contract stating they can only be fired for specific reasons (e.g., poor performance or misconduct), firing them without meeting these conditions is a breach of contract; and
Implied contracts—even without a written agreement, certain employer behaviors or promises (e.g., job security based on performance) can create an implied contract, and violating this implied agreement can be grounds for wrongful termination.

A skilled attorney at Lawyers for Justice, PC, can review your employment contract and help you determine whether your employer violated its terms.

Violation of Public Policy

An employer cannot terminate an employee for reasons that violate public policy. Public policy violations include firing an employee for:

Refusing to engage in illegal activities (e.g., falsifying records);
Exercising a legal right (e.g., voting, serving on a jury); and
Reporting violations of law to authorities.

If you believe your termination violated public policy, an experienced employment lawyer can work with you to protect your rights and recoup any resulting damages.

What Steps Should I Take After a Wrongful Termination at Oakmont Senior Living?

If you believe Oakmont Senior Living unfairly dismissed you, take these next steps to seek justice and protect your rights:

Document everything—keep detailed records of all events leading up to your termination, including emails, performance reviews, and any communications with management;
Understand your rights—familiarize yourself with California’s employment laws and your specific rights under these laws;
Seek legal advice—consult a wrongful termination lawyer to evaluate your case and advise you on the best course of action;
File a complaint—your attorney will help you file a formal complaint with the appropriate authorities, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the California Civil Rights Division (CRD);
Negotiate—your lawyer may attempt to settle your wrongful termination claim out of court, negotiating with your employer for damages that reflect the harm done; and
Litigate—if the case proceeds to court, your lawyer will represent you throughout the litigation process, ensuring your rights are protected.

A skilled employment law attorney at Lawyers for Justice, PC can walk you through these steps and more. Our compassionate advocates can explain your legal options and help you choose the best course for your situation.

What Are My Employee Wrongful Termination Rights in California?

California’s legal framework provides extensive protections against wrongful termination. Some fundamental safeguards include:

Retaliation protection—employers cannot fire employees for engaging in safeguarded activities such as those mentioned in previous sections;
Right to file a complaint—you have the right to submit a wrongful termination complaint through state agencies such as the (CRD) or federal agencies like the (EEOC);
Right to seek damages—you have the right to seek damages, including lost wages, benefits, and potentially punitive damages; and
Right to legal services—wrongful termination lawyers in California, like Lawyers for Justice, PC, will give your case the care and attention your claim deserves and ensure you are fully protected.

If you believe Oakmont Senior Living wrongfully terminated you, a skilled wrongful termination lawyer at Lawyers for Justice, PC, can explain these and other rights and ensure your employer abides by California’s comprehensive laws and employee protections.

Contact Lawyers for Justice, PC Today

The award-winning, experienced legal advocates at Lawyers for Justice, PC, offer free case evaluations and comprehensive legal advice for wrongful termination. Moreover, if you are contemplating suing Oakmont Senior Living for wrongful termination, we can provide you with:

A professional legal assessment—we can assess your case and its merits and devise a plan of action;
Negotiation—we can negotiate a settlement that reflects the injustice you suffered; and
Strategic litigation—if your case goes to court, we can craft a compelling argument and fight tirelessly for the settlement you deserve.

Our profound commitment to advocating for justice has resulted in the recovery of over $100 million for Californian employees. Contact us today—we thoroughly understand employment law and will fight tirelessly to protect your workplace rights.