hey, if you're in California and you just lost your job in a way that felt wrong — this is for you ✍️
california is technically "at-will," which sounds scary. it means your employer can fire you without giving a reason. but it does NOT mean they can fire you for an illegal reason.
🔹 firing you because of your race, religion, gender, pregnancy, disability, age (40+), or sexual orientation
🔹 letting you go after you reported unpaid wages or missed rest breaks
🔹 terminating you after you took CFRA or FMLA medical/family leave
🔹 firing you for filing a workers' comp claim
🔹 letting you go because you refused to do something illegal
🔹 retaliating against you for reporting your employer's illegal conduct
these are all protected under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Labor Code.
here's the most important thing: write everything down. right now. dates, conversations, who said what, performance reviews, any complaints you made, witnesses. this record becomes your most powerful tool.
and don't wait — filing deadlines are real, and missing them can eliminate your options entirely.