Most US states are At Will when it comes to labor laws. This means that you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have any protections. There are times when you can be considered wrongfully terminated. If you feel like you have been wrongly terminated or you feel you have been targeted by your employer, you may have a legal case for workplace retaliation. You will want to click here to consult with a reliable law firm to find out if you have a case and how you can take things further.
Wrongful termination is when you lose your job for reasons that aren’t fair or legal. This can include being let go for who you are, like your race or age. It can even include what you believe in, like your religion, or even for standing up for your rights at work. In this article, we will go over several of the red flags that show you were wrongfully terminated since you’ll have employment law on your side.
Lack of warnings
Usually, when an employer is unhappy with your work, they’ll tell you. They may give you a warning, or even a few, about what needs to improve. This could be in the form of written warnings or formal meetings where they talk to you about your work performance.
But if you’re let go out of the blue, without any warnings or conversations about your work, it might not be fair. This sudden termination could be a sign that something isn’t right.
Usually, when you are let go without warning there is an underlying reason behind it that involves discrimination or retaliation. For instance, if you have a new manager or boss and you are part of a protected class, then this could hint at discrimination. Or, if you recently filed a complaint about something at work and then are fired, this is likely due to retaliation.
Discrimination
Discrimination is when you’re treated differently because of who you are. This isn’t fair, and it’s not legal. You have protections based on your age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability.
These are all parts of who you are. They’re also all protected by law. This means your boss can’t fire you because of them. If you’re treated badly at work because of these things, that’s not okay. It could be a sign of wrongful termination.
Being pregnant, having a baby, or taking care of your family are all protected, too. If you lose your job because of them, it could be wrongful termination. For instance, if you tell your boss that you are pregnant and are fired without having any past history of performance issues then this is a sure sign.
What you can do if you were unjustly fired
If you think you’ve been wrongfully terminated, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You’ll tell them about what happened, and they’ll look into it. They might be able to help you get your job back, or help you get money for what you’ve lost.
You should also look into getting an experienced wrongful termination lawyer. A lawyer can help you understand your rights. They can also help you file a complaint with the EEOC, or even sue your former employer. They can guide you through each step of the process.
