Wrongful termination can cause a worker to lose their job which may provide security for them and for their family. For that reason, it is essential for workers to know how to protect themselves from wrongful termination.
When terminating and employee may be wrongful
In many situations, employers can terminate an employer for any reason, however, there are certain reasons it may be illegal for an employer to fire an employee based on. Examples of wrongful termination can include:
- Firing a worker in violation of federal and state anti-discrimination laws;
- Firing a worker as a form of sexual harassment;
- Firing an worker in violation of an employment contract or agreement;
- Firing a worker in violation of labor laws, including collective bargaining laws; or
- Firing a worker in retaliation for the worker filing a complaint or claim against the employer.
Discrimination and harassment are illegal in the workplace. It is also illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who report prohibited discrimination or harassment and speak out against discriminatory or harassing workplace conditions.
In addition, it is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for reporting illegal conduct or wrongdoing on behalf of the employer. Even if an employee is an at-will employee, they cannot be fired for the prohibited reasons; if they are terminated for those reasons, it may be considered wrongful.
You have the right to challenge a termination
Losing a job can cause workers to lose what they rely on to care for themselves and their loved ones. Employment law protections are designed to help ensure employees are not illegally terminated for exercising their rights in the workplace.