Being terminated from your job can be a traumatic experience for most people. You may run through a gamut of emotions from disbelief to anger to disappointment to panic to despair. Even if your employer tries to couch your dismissal with civil phrases about restructuring, layoff period, or company issues, it does not change the fact that they are firing you from your job. It can be worse if it is not clear why your employer decided to let you go.

Rather than let sadness overwhelm you about the wrongful termination, it might be more beneficial if you contact one of the best wrongful termination lawyers in Los Angeles and explore your options to deal with the situation.

Five ways employees can deal with wrongful termination

1. Check the company’s employee handbook

In California, employment is on an at-will basis. That means your employer has the legal right to terminate your employment at any time and for any reason. However, there can be exceptions to that. If you have a work contract that defines the conditions of job termination or if the company’s employee handbook states these in detail, the employer has to abide by them. If they violate these terms, you may have a case for wrongful termination.

You can discuss the matter with your company’s HR manager and see if they are willing to reinstate you in your position. If they are not willing to do so, you can get in touch with one of the best wrongful termination lawyers in Los Angeles and get competent legal advice.

2. Determine if your termination was wrongful

There are various reasons for dismissal that may constitute wrongful termination. Review your contract and check if the employer promised you a job after passing their probationary period. If you cleared it and they still refuse to provide the job security they offered in the contract, it is wrongful termination.

Other examples of wrongful dismissal include losing your job because you took maternity or paternity leave, speaking out against business malpractices, or protesting about the lack of safety issues. It is also wrongful termination if your employer fired you for resisting sexual harassment or because you do not meet the employer’s preferences about gender, race, religion, or age. Some employers may also fire you to prevent you from getting a deserved promotion or receiving benefits.

3. Talk to an employment lawyer

Discussing your situation with one of the best wrongful termination lawyers in Los Angeles may enable you to explore the legal options available to you. Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation during which they will assess your situation and determine if it has legal validity. If you have a case, they will advise you on the legal steps you can take against your employer. You must ask them about the possible outcome and compensation you can expect if you take your employer to court. It is advisable to also ask about their legal fees.

Some lawyers take on cases on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they win the case for you, and then they will take a certain percentage of the compensation. However, there can be other legal expenses that you will have to foot.

4. File a wrongful termination claim

In California, you can file a wrongful termination claim with a regulatory agency like the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within six months to three years of being dismissed from your job. You must provide details of your dispute in your petition. That can include information about why you think the employer dismissed you, the work contract provisions your employer violated, any discriminatory incidents that led to your dismissal, and evidence proving wrongful termination.

While you can file a wrongful termination claim on your own, it is advisable to have one of the best wrongful termination lawyers in Los Angeles review your case beforehand and offer necessary legal assistance.

5. Consider exploring other job options

While getting over being unfairly dismissed is difficult, your former employer’s poor policies need not influence your life. Instead, use your compensation to build a better future. Reassess your career goals, pick up new skills, and find better work opportunities.