What canI do ifI was fired while pregnant and without and explanation?
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What canI do ifI was fired while pregnant and without and explanation?
I worked for an after school program. At the end of this past school year they had me sign a paper stating that I would not apply for unemployment for the 8 weeks I was to be unemployed for. When I asked, “What if I don’t sign it?” I was told that I would not be returning to work the following school year, so I signed it. A week before the school year started again, I had yet to receive a call from my employer. Therefore I began calling and asking about the status of my employment. When I finally spoke to someone I was informed that I was no longer employed.
Asked on August 8, 2011 California
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
In California, there are laws preventing an employer from terminating an employee's position because she was/is pregnant. When a female employee is so far along and needs to go away from the workplace due to health conditions or to have the child, the employer in California is required to hold open that employee's position until she returns to work or advises in writing that she elects not to go back to work. The only exception to holding an employee's position open is when economics dictate layoffs for the employer.
The document you signed was presented to you under false pretenses and with misrepresentations being made to you.
Your former employer calculated a plan to preclude you from receiving allowed unemployment benefits and to add insult to injury, terminated your position. You should immediately go down to your local labor department and speak with a representative there. You may have been wrongfully terminated from your position.
You should also consult with a labor attorney over what happened.
Good luck.
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