California has some of the strongest employee protections in the country. For that reason, employers must be careful when deciding to terminate someone. Knowing which employees belong to protected classes can help businesses avoid legal trouble.
What are protected classes?
A protected class includes people with characteristics that federal and state laws shield from discrimination. These include race, religion, gender identity, medical conditions, and citizenship status.
Employers cannot terminate someone based on these traits. If an employee claims discrimination played a role in their termination, they may sue for wrongful termination. Also, terminating someone for an unlawful reason can lead to expensive lawsuits and harm a company’s reputation.
How can employers avoid wrongful termination claims?
Companies should have clear rules and follow fair procedures when terminating employees. Taking the right steps can prevent legal trouble and create a better workplace:
- Keeping records of performance issues: Tracking employee behavior, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions is important. Written records show that the employer terminated someone for work-related reasons instead of discrimination.
- Following company policies fairly: Employers should apply the same rules to all employees. If one employee gets terminated for breaking a rule but another only gets a warning for the same thing, the company may face discrimination claims.
- Training managers on employment laws: Supervisors and HR staff must learn state and federal rules. Staying current with these statutes can prevent mistakes that could lead to lawsuits.
- Giving employees a chance to improve: Generally, employees should receive warnings and have time to fix mistakes for relatively minor mistakes. A fair process helps protect employers from wrongful termination claims.
- Using fair standards when making layoff decisions: If a layoff affects many employees from a protected class, the company could face discrimination claims. Employers should use neutral, job-related reasons when deciding who to lay off.
California laws strongly protect workers, and wrongful termination lawsuits can cost businesses time and money. Employers who understand protected classes and use fair termination practices can lower their legal risks and create a stable workplace.