How Do I Know If I Was Wrongfully Terminated From A Job?

Being let go from a job is a difficult experience, especially when the termination comes as a surprise. You might wonder if you have a case for wrongful termination. This is a question that can be complex to answer.

Before you decide that you are going to take legal action, you should take the time to familiarize with some basic points related to wrongful termination.

What, exactly, is wrongful termination?

Wrongful termination occurs when you are fired from a job for an illegal reason. The “illegal reason” component is the key to this type of issue. Employers have the right to fire employees for no reason, but when the reason is covered under certain laws, you might have a legal case.

What are some examples of wrongful termination?

One example of a wrongful termination is a retaliatory firing. This situation occurs if you make a complaint about something that is going on in the business, such as a sexual harassment complaint, and you are fired because of that complaint. Another example would be if you are fired because of a protected status, such as being a specific faith, gender or race.

Proving wrongful termination is often difficult, but it isn’t impossible. You can often look into the circumstances just prior to the termination to determine what you should do. For example, if you have always gotten great evaluations and then are fired shortly after you filed a complaint about a manager making an inappropriate remark, you may have a case for wrongful termination. Carefully consider the options that you have for handling your case.

Source: FindLaw, “Was I Wrongfully Discharged From My Job?,” accessed April 21, 2017