Although only a handful of all wrongful termination cases make headlines in Pasadena, a Pasadena Transit driver has become a huge celebrity in California… for the second time in less than two months.
A Pasadena bus driver, who was wrongfully terminated in November for asking mechanics to fix his side-view mirrors, has been put back to work.
The bizarre wrongful termination case of Margarito Ayala grabbed headlines over two months ago, and the publicity may have helped the 32-year-old bus driver to get rehired.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about thousands of employees across Pasadena who lose their jobs in outrageous cases of wrongful termination every year – and fail in their efforts to get rehired and seek compensation for the illegal firing.
If you’ve been fired on the basis of your race, skin color, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or other factors that singled you out in the workplace, you may have a wrongful termination case on your case.
Fact: wrongful termination lawsuits have soared by 260% in the past two decades in California.
But before we get to the meat and potatoes of taking legal action against your employer who wrongfully fired you, let’s divert our attention back to the Pasadena bus driver…
Why was the bus driver re-hired so easily?
Ayala, who was wrongfully dismissed two months ago for refusing to drive his bus until mechanics adjusted his side-view mirrors, has been rehired after filing a wrongful termination lawsuit and pursuing legal action against Pasadena Transit.
The company initially justified its actions by claiming that Ayala’s refusal to work caused delays in service and that the bus driver was insubordinate. The wrongfully terminated employee denied their allegations, saying that delays were less than 10 minutes.
The lawsuit and the publicity surrounding the case got the company all fired up to give Ayala his job back. Not only was the Pasadena bus driver rehired at the same salary, but was also paid for the weeks he was out of work.
Our wrongful termination attorneys at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers explain that Ayala would have won the lawsuit against the company in any event, because the employer’s actions constituted violations of employment laws. That’s why the company decided to offer the bus driver an olive branch and extended an offer of re-employment.
Ayala has driven the Pasadena Transit bus for over five years and has never been in a bus accident.
Signs of wrongful termination in the workplace
The best wrongful termination lawyers – here at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers – advise employees across California to watch out for the following harassment, retaliation, and discrimination signs in the workplace that may lead to wrongful termination.
Being legally prepared for your employer’s illegal actions is the best way to prevent getting fired, seek justice, and obtain compensation if you get dismissed.
- You’re being treated differently on the basis of your race, gender, sex age, or other discriminatory factors
- The employer makes direct discriminatory statements against you
- There is circumstantial evidence (when, for example, you become the fifth woman in a row to lose your job without legitimate explanation)
- The employer’s comments or actions indicate bias against certain groups
- The employer makes offensive or insulting comments about your race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, medical condition, and other
- The employer makes unsolicited sexual advances or offers you to perform sex acts in exchange for employment benefits
- When you decide to become a whistleblower, the employer warns you of the consequences for reporting violations
- The employer reacts negatively when you point out any violations in the workplace.
If you’ve noticed any of the above-mentioned signs of wrongful termination in the workplace, don’t hesitate to consult our experienced wrongful termination attorneys to find out about the most optimal legal strategy in your particular case.
Our lawyers at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers will work you through the process of filing a wrongful termination lawsuit in Pasadena in order to seek maximum compensation for illegal firing in the form of lost wages, backpay, and other damages.
Call our Pasadena offices at 310-527-6994 or fill out this contact form for a free case evaluation.