There are many protections in place for workers when it comes to being fired from their job. It is important for a stable and successful society for employees to have some degree of job security. Therefore, while it is still possible to get fired from your place of work, employers need to have a good reason for this. There has a trend in the last couple of years that has seen many workers take their former employers to court and win their case.
This blog will provide a brief introduction into wrongful termination claims and how it is possible to make a successful claim if you have been fired illegally.
The myth about “at-will” employment
“At-will employment” is used often as a way to describe employers. It seems to give the impression that employers can fire their employees for no reason or for any reason at all. However, this is not the case. Although employers can fire a person and not give a specific reason, they cannot fire a person for an unlawful reason such as discrimination or retaliation.
What are unlawful reasons?
Unlawful reasons for firing an employee include firing someone in retaliation for because of a complaint that the employee made, firing in relation to any sexual harassment that they were subject to or breaking any labor laws in the process.
If you believe that you have been subject to a wrongful termination, you should first of all have in mind the reason that you believe were illegally fired for. This could be due to many reasons, including discrimination or sexual harassment. You should then speak to a trusted legal advisor who can then recommend the next steps.
Source: Findlaw, “Do I need a wrongful termination lawyer?,” accessed Sep. 18, 2017