Fired or punished for speaking up in California?
The FEHA retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of public policy may protect employees from retaliation and wrongful termination. Deadlines, filing routes, and available remedies depend on what happened and which law applies.
You can request a review even if you are not sure whether the conduct legally qualifies, never reported it to HR, or still work for the employer.
Updated August 2026
- Fired, demoted, scheduled less, or disciplined after reporting a workplace issue
- Punished after requesting leave or an accommodation
- Fired for refusing unlawful conduct
- Terminated for a reason protected by state or federal law
California protects workers from retaliation for opposing unlawful discrimination and recognizes a separate court claim for termination that violates fundamental public policy. A FEHA retaliation complaint generally must reach CRD within three years, while the federal EEOC window is 300 days. The public-policy tort follows a separate court route.
Wrongful-termination information by city in California
Select your city for locally relevant filing information, agency routes, and a case review with your state already selected.
- FresnoWrongful-termination information
- Long BeachWrongful-termination information
- Los AngelesWrongful-termination information
- Orange CountyWrongful-termination information
- RiversideWrongful-termination information
- SacramentoWrongful-termination information
- San BernardinoWrongful-termination information
- San DiegoWrongful-termination information
- San FranciscoWrongful-termination information
- San JoseWrongful-termination information
California at a glance.
- Governing law
- FEHA retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of public policy, Cal. Gov. Code § 12940(h)
More detail
Tameny v. Atlantic Richfield Co. - Coverage
- FEHA retaliation generally applies to employers with 5 or more employees.
More detail
A public-policy wrongful-termination tort is a court claim and does not use FEHA's employee-count rule. - State retaliation charge
- 3 years from the retaliatory act to file a FEHA complaint with CRD under Gov. Code § 12960.
- Federal EEOC retaliation charge
- 300 days for a federal retaliation charge because California is a deferral state.
- Court claim
- Wrongful termination in violation of public policy proceeds directly in court, not through CRD.
More detail
The supplied matrix does not establish a separate Tameny tort limitations number, so do not describe the three-year CRD charge period as the tort deadline without attorney confirmation. - After right-to-sue
- 1 year from a CRD right-to-sue notice for the FEHA civil action under Gov. Code § 12965.
- Damages
- FEHA does not impose Title VII-style compensatory or punitive damages caps.
More detail
Remedies on the public-policy tort route depend on the claim and proof. - State retaliation agency
- California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
What may be available under California law on retaliation and wrongful termination.
- Back pay, lost benefits, and front pay or reinstatement where available.
- Emotional-distress damages where recoverable under the proven claim.
- Punitive damages where the governing claim and evidence permit them.
- Attorney's fees and costs on a successful FEHA retaliation claim; tort-fee recovery depends on a separate basis.
- Gov. Code § 12940(h) protects opposition to practices forbidden by FEHA and participation in covered proceedings.
- A public-policy wrongful-termination claim is a court tort, not an administrative charge.
- The same firing may support both retaliation and public-policy theories, but each has its own elements and deadline analysis.
Where to file in California.
Los Angeles Office
320 West 4th Street, Suite 1000, 10th FloorLos Angeles, CA 90013
(800) 884-1684
Riverside Office
1325 Spruce Street, Suite 320Riverside, CA 92507
(800) 884-1684
Wrongful termination in violation of public policy
The public-policy tort is filed in court rather than with CRD or the EEOC. A related FEHA retaliation claim may still require an agency charge first.
Filing is CENTRALIZED statewide: online via California Civil Rights System (CCRS), phone 800-884-1684, 711 relay, TTY 1-800-700-2320, email contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov, or mail to HQ. CRD HQ/mailing is 651 Bannon Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95811.
File with CRD ↗Deadlines are shorter than most people expect. Share what happened in about two minutes. The firm will review your submission and contact you about possible options and next steps. There is no cost or obligation to request a review.
The same conduct can break more than one law.
What happened to you in California may also amount to a separate claim, with its own protections and its own deadlines. Each of these is worth checking before anything lapses.
Common questions.
Is every unfair firing wrongful termination in California?
No. The firing must violate a statute, constitutional provision, or another fundamental public policy, or support a separate statutory claim such as FEHA retaliation.
Do I file a Tameny claim with CRD?
No. Wrongful termination in violation of public policy is a court tort. A related FEHA retaliation claim may require a CRD or EEOC charge.