In many states, employment relationships are considered as “at will.” This allows for the employer or employee to terminate employment with or without a cause for reason, as long as there is no violation of federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws.
Have I Been Wrongfully Terminated?
If an employee has been discriminated against and was terminated, this means that they have been illegally and wrongfully terminated. Wrongful termination is when an employee’s employment has been terminated for one of the following reasons:
Discrimination- If you have been terminated due to your age, gender, nationality, race, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation, then this is considered wrongful and against the law.
Leaves of absence- It is against the law to be terminated due to the request to take a military, FMLA, or pregnancy-related leave of absence.
Retaliation- It is wrongful to terminate an employee in retaliation. If any employee has reported any workplace violations, and his or her employer, the employer is prohibited from terminating the employee for that cause.
Contract Breach- If an employee’s termination has been in violation of their employment contract, then the employee has been wrongfully terminated.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Wrongfully Terminated?
If you have reason to believe that your termination was illegal and wrongful, it is important to speak with an employment attorney immediately, especially since you may be entitled to unemployment, severance pay, or damages due to your claim. Not only will an employment attorney help to determine if you have a valid claim, but they can help you to file a wrongful termination claim against your former employer, as well as potentially earn you lost pay.
The attorneys at Maduff & Maduff have been specializing in employment law for more than 20 years. If you have questions or need help with your wrongful termination, discrimination, or retaliation claim, contact us today.