The EEOC Received Many Complaints Last Year

People in California need to go to work in order to earn money so they can pay their bills and live their lives. That is why it can be so devastating when someone loses their job.

Companies fire employees for a variety of reasons, and as most people in California are at-will employees, the firing is legal.

However, there are many firings that are illegal as well. For instance, employers cannot fire employees based on their age, disability, gender, religion, race, national origin and other reasons. If an employee is fired based on one of those reasons, the employee may be able to receive compensation from the employer for the income and benefits they lost and for other damages.

In order to receive this compensation though, the employee will often first file a wrongful termination claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC then investigates the claim to determine if there was discrimination.

In 2018, the EEOC received over 200,000 inquires and were able to help approximately 67,860 people with their claims. They were able to secure approximately $505 million for the employees who were discriminated against at work. They obtained this money through mediation, settlements, litigation and appeals.

If a California employee is fired for discriminatory reasons, then the employee may be able to receive compensation for the money they lost due to the illegal actions of their employer. This compensation can be very valuable for the employee as well as help hold the employer accountable for their actions. Experienced attorneys understand employees’ rights and may be able to help protect them.