Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is terminated for an unlawful reason, including:
- Discrimination based on a protected characteristic
- Retaliation for protected activity
- Whistleblowing
- Violation of public policy
California is an at-will employment state, but at-will status does not permit termination for illegal reasons.
Employers defend wrongful termination claims by demonstrating:
- Legitimate, documented business reasons
- Consistent application of policies
- Objective performance or conduct issues
- Absence of discriminatory or retaliatory motive
Strong documentation and internal review before termination significantly reduce exposure.
