Grant-Burton v. Covenant Care, Inc.

Opinion

MALLANO, J.

In this wrongful termination case, the employer discharged an employee, in part because she had participated in a group discussion with other employees about the fairness of the employer’s bonus system. The trial court granted the employer’s motion for summary judgment.

We conclude that the employee had a fundamental right rooted in public policy to join in a discussion with other employees about whether they were being equitably compensated. Labor Code section 232 prohibits the discharge of employees for discussing the amount of their wages. We therefore reverse as to the…