“Quiet firing” in California is a practice spearheaded by employers who seek to drive employees out of the workplace through harassment campaigns. These campaigns may see employers sharply reduce an employee’s pay without explanation, cut an employee’s working hours, or target employees with protected characteristics.
This practice has considerable crossover with workplace discrimination. As such, it may not be legal in California. If you suspect that your employer is trying to quietly fire you, then it’s time to reach out to a Los Angeles employment lawyer.
An experienced legal professional can break down what quiet firing is, if it’s legal in California, and how you can challenge attempts to quietly fire you. We can assert that an employer’s behavior violates state or federal law, then argue for your right to compensation based on your mistreatment.
What Is Quiet Firing?
“Quiet firing” is a term that’s gained popularity in the past few years. It’s often used in tandem with “quiet quitting,” or the practice of doing the bare minimum in the workplace. However, “quiet firing” isn’t legal in California.
The term refers to an employment practice in which employers intentionally make a workplace less comfortable for an employee in hopes of forcing them to quit. Employers may choose to engage in harassment campaigns, deny an employee due raises, demote an employee, or even schedule an employee for fewer hours in hopes of driving them away.
Quiet Firing Versus Constructive Discharge
There’s some overlap between quiet firing and constructive discharges. Constructive discharges can also involve an employer deliberately making the workplace hostile in hopes of forcing an employee out on their own terms.
Constructive discharge campaigns can involve an employer deliberately verbally abusing or intimidating an employee. Employers may retaliate against an employee who reports abuse. An employer may also attempt to isolate or exclude their target in hopes of making them feel small or unimportant within the business’s operations.
These behaviors are detrimental on a personal and professional level. What’s more, they can entitle a victim to legal action, especially if the harassment campaigns prove successful.
Employees driven out of the workplace due to constructive discharge via quiet firing campaigns may have the right to pursue wrongful termination lawsuits.
For a free legal consultation, call 213-232-3128
How to Recognize Quiet Firing
Some of the most common signs of a California quiet firing campaign include:
- Reduced responsibilities throughout the workplace
- Deliberate attempts to overwhelm employees
- Isolation tactics, including attempts to remove employees from group meetings or decision-making efforts
- Sudden changes in compensation without warning
- Harassment based on protected characteristics, including gender, sex, age, and race, among others
- Lack of credit for workplace activities and projects
- Difficulty communicating with previously supportive supervisors or team members
Is Quiet Firing Legal in California?
While employers throughout California can make changes throughout a business, those changes should not deliberately target an employee in hopes of getting that employee to quit their job. Illegitimate decisions that violate an employee’s rights or discriminate against an employee based on protected characteristics are illegal.
That said, quiet firing does not include employer behaviors rooted in evidential business operations. For example, if any employee falls behind at work, an employer isn’t “quietly firing” them by warning them about their performance or restructuring their workload.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’re the victim of a quiet firing campaign, consider booking a case consultation with an experienced Los Angeles employment lawyer. We can investigate your circumstances and help you take legal action as appropriate.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
What Can You Do if You’re Being Quietly Fired?
If you think your employer may be targeting you via a harassment campaign or with the intention of quietly firing you, get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible. Make sure you document your mistreatment. The more evidence you have of targeted mistreatment, the easier it may be to prove that you’re entitled to compensation for an employer’s abuse.
You can also speak with your fellow employees to determine if you’re the only person being targeted by a quiet firing campaign or if an employer’s business has impacted your peers.
If an employer targets multiple employees with a quiet firing campaign, you can band together to file a class action against that employer.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Let’s Discuss Your Right to Legal Action
You do not have to let an employer make your workplace unbearable. “Quiet firing” has a lot of crossover with workplace discrimination, meaning that the practice may entitle you to legal action.
You can connect with an employment lawyer serving Los Angeles to discuss whether or not you’re a victim of quiet firing and what action you can take in response.
Our legal team wants to make it as easy as possible for you to understand what quiet firing is and if it’s legal in California. You can bring any questions you have about quiet firing and your right to responsive legal action to our team during an employment law case consultation.
Don’t wait to get in touch with our office. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start fighting for justice on your behalf.
Call or text 213-232-3128 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
