Employment Law Damages in California
Wrongfully fired, harassed, or discriminated against? Learn what damages you can recover in CA — including lost wages, emotional distress & punitive damages.
What Damages Can You Recover in an Employment Law Case?
If you were wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, harassed, or retaliated against at work, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation under California employment law. At Employees First Labor Law, we’ve recovered millions for employees across the state — and we know exactly what types of damages are available and how to maximize them in settlement or trial.
1. Back Pay (Lost Wages & Benefits)
This includes the income and benefits you would have earned from the date of the wrongful action (e.g., termination, demotion, unpaid leave) until the present. Back pay may include:
- Missed hourly wages or salary
- Unpaid bonuses or commissions
- Lost 401(k) contributions
- Missed health insurance or paid time off
- Overtime and shift differentials
💡 Example: If you were fired 9 months ago and earned $6,000/month, your back pay might exceed $54,000 — not including benefits or bonuses.
2. Front Pay (Future Lost Wages)
If reinstatement isn’t feasible (which is often the case), you may be awarded front pay — compensation for your future lost earnings while you seek new work or deal with lasting career damage. Front pay depends on:
- How long it will reasonably take to find a new job
- Whether your injury or stigma prevents comparable employment
- Expert vocational analysis (we work with the best)
3. Emotional Distress Damages
California law recognizes that employment law violations take a real toll on your mental and emotional well-being. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Anxiety, depression, or insomnia
- Loss of self-esteem or embarrassment
- Physical symptoms caused by stress (headaches, ulcers, etc.)
- The humiliation of being wrongfully terminated or harassed
💡 Many of our clients have received six-figure emotional distress awards, especially in discrimination or retaliation cases.
4. Punitive Damages
In cases where the employer’s conduct was especially outrageous, malicious, or intentional, the court may award punitive damages — not to compensate you, but to punish the employer and deter future violations. Punitive damages may apply in:
- Harassment by management
- Retaliation for whistleblowing
- Intentional failure to accommodate a disability
- Fraud or falsification of termination reasons
💡 Punitive damages can dwarf all other compensation and are often 2–10x higher than actual losses.
5. Statutory Penalties and Interest
Depending on the claim type, you may also be entitled to:
- Waiting time penalties (Labor Code § 203)
- PAGA penalties for Labor Code violations
- Liquidated damages under wage and hour laws
- 10% post-judgment interest per year
6. Attorneys’ Fees and Legal Costs
Many California employment laws — like FEHA and the Labor Code — allow employees who win their cases to recover attorney’s fees and litigation costs. This makes it more feasible for workers to hold employers accountable, even if their individual economic damages are modest. EFLL handles these cases on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.
Let EFLL Maximize Your Recovery
Our firm doesn’t just file claims — we build cases that win. Whether you’re negotiating a severance, suing for wrongful termination, or filing a retaliation complaint, we’ll fight to recover every dollar you deserve.
What Affects the Value of Your Employment Case?
Several factors determine how much your case is worth:
- The strength of the evidence (emails, witnesses, HR reports)
- How long you were unemployed
- Whether you’ve been diagnosed with emotional distress
- The egregiousness of the employer’s conduct
- Whether they violated written policies or state law
- Your age, industry, and ability to find new work
Don’t let the employer lowball you. We’ve seen countless cases where the defense tried to settle for $10,000 — and we recovered $100,000+.
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READ OUR BLOG
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