California is an at-will employment<\/a> state, but that cuts both ways. Employers cannot fire you for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for protected activity, or in violation of public policy. The Tameny<\/em> doctrine lets you sue in common law when a termination crosses that line, such as being fired for refusing to commit an illegal act or for reporting a safety violation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take these three steps in the next 48\u201372 hours:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Severance is not legally required in California. Employers offer it<\/a> primarily to secure a release of your legal claims, including wage-and-hour claims, discrimination claims, and retaliation claims. That trade deserves careful scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under SB 331<\/strong> (the Silenced No More Act), any nondisparagement clause in a severance agreement must explicitly state that it does not prohibit you from discussing harassment, discrimination, or other unlawful workplace conduct. Employers must give you a reasonable time to review the agreement and must inform you of your right to consult an attorney before signing. A nondisparagement clause missing that language can be unenforceable under California Government Code \u00a712964.5<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re 40 or older, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) adds another layer: you have a designated period to consider the agreement and a short window to revoke it after signing. Non-compete clauses are also largely unenforceable in California, so any such provision in your severance is a red flag worth contesting. Learn more about severance pay eligibility<\/a> before you decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monrovia sits within Los Angeles County, which means employees here benefit from county-level protections that layer on top of California state law. The Los Angeles County Worker Retention Ordinance, for example, protects certain workers during business transitions and ownership changes. The county\u2019s minimum wage and paid sick leave ordinances also affect what counts as \u201cwages\u201d in a final pay calculation, which matters when you\u2019re evaluating whether your employer paid you correctly at termination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n For mass layoffs affecting Monrovia employers, both the federal WARN Act and California\u2019s Cal-WARN Act<\/a> require advance notice for qualifying plant closings or large-scale layoffs. Employers who skip that notice may owe back pay and benefits for the notice period, a claim separate from any wrongful termination suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n California\u2019s COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave has expired, but its legacy matters. Workers who were terminated during the pandemic for taking protected leave, raising safety concerns, or refusing unsafe working conditions may still have viable retaliation claims if they acted within the applicable statute of limitations. FEHA discrimination and retaliation claims generally must be filed with the CRD within three years<\/strong> of the unlawful act; EEOC charges carry a 300-day<\/strong> deadline for California employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent legislative updates, including SB 331 and expanded CRD enforcement authority, reflect California\u2019s ongoing commitment to protecting workers from coercive separation agreements. Monrovia employees should also be aware that the California Civil Rights Team\u2019s FAQ<\/a> on settlement agreements is a useful resource for understanding what compliant language looks like versus what should raise concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fair severance offer reflects the strength of your potential claims, your tenure, and the employer\u2019s exposure. Most standard offers fall short of that. Watch for these common pitfalls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> Before you assess the dollar amount, assess what you\u2019re giving up. A $5,000 offer paired with a broad release of a $50,000 wage claim is not a good deal, regardless of how it\u2019s framed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Monrovia wrongful termination lawyer<\/a> can evaluate the full value of your claims before you sign anything. You can also review California and federal statutes directly through resources like Rubin Law\u2019s statute library<\/a> to understand the legal framework behind your rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019ve been wrongfully fired or handed a severance agreement that doesn\u2019t add up, you need someone in your corner who knows California employment law and the local Los Angeles County filing landscape. Huprich Law Firm offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you. We review severance agreements under the SB 331 framework, file administrative claims with the CRD, EEOC, and DLSE, and negotiate settlements or litigate when employers won\u2019t do the right thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before your first call, gather your termination letter, any severance offer, recent pay stubs, and any communications about the reason for your firing. That preparation lets us move fast. Schedule a free consultation<\/a> with Huprich Law Firm today and get a clear answer on where you stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a qualified California employment attorney or contact the CRD, EEOC, or DLSE directly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Facing wrongful termination and severance issues in Monrovia? Learn about your rights and protections under California law. Get legal help today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113,226],"tags":[1204],"class_list":["post-17476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment-law","category-wrongful-termination","tag-monrovia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n
Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What You Need To Know Before Signing A Severance Agreement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Local Monrovia And Los Angeles County Protections That Go Further<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Infographic](\"https:\/\/huprichlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blg-89de8f7ccc75560ddc5f1467e8129d5d.jpeg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow COVID-19 Protections And Recent Laws Still Affect Monrovia Employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Tell Whether Your Severance Package Is Actually Fair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Huprich Law Firm Is Ready To Fight For Monrovia Employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recommended<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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