Employment Law: Unlawful Termination Based on Filing a Worker’s Compensation Claim
California employment law sets forth the rules, regulations, statutes, and case law relevant to the relationship between employers and employees. Generally, employment relationships in California are “at-will”, meaning that an employee may be terminated at any time, for any reason. However, there are notable exceptions to this general rule. One exception is that an employer may not terminate an employee for filing a worker’s compensation claim. A worker who suffers an on-the-job injury is entitled by statute to file a claim for compensation.
An employee whose employment is terminated after filing or otherwise initiating a worker’s compensation claim may have a claim against the employer for wrongful termination. Damages that a successful claimant might recover from a former employer include compensation for lost wages and the value of lost benefits. In some cases, successful claimants may recover damages for emotional distress and for attorney fees.
Generally, to prove unlawful termination based on filing a worker’s compensation claim, the claimant must show that he or she was an employee entitled to receive worker’s compensation benefits; that he or she filed a claim for worker’s compensation; that he or she suffered an adverse consequence, such as termination of employment; and that the employer imposed the adverse consequence because of the filing of the worker’s compensation claim.
It is important to seek legal advice from an experienced employment law attorney if you believe your employer wrongfully discharged you. Please contact us to discuss the facts of your case and your legal rights and remedies.
