As an employee, it is critically important to know and understand your rights. Employers are entitled to certain things, but there are limits to what they can say and do. For example, while employers do have valid grounds to terminate employees in certain circumstances, there are limits to how and when they can do this. Wrongful termination is illegal, and victims of this unacceptable action can speak up about what they experienced.
If you recently lost your job, you will benefit from knowing the reason why your employer made that decision. Termination affects your financial stability, future job opportunities and more. Termination for an invalid reason could be grounds to move forward with legal action against your employer, and if you suspect that this is what happened to you, having an understanding of your legal options will be useful.
Discretion over hiring and firing
Employers have the right to hire and fire employers as they need to, perhaps because they are not a great fit for the specific role or for another legitimate business reason, such as a downturn in sales. However, firing someone for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons is illegal, and this counts as wrongful termination. Examples of wrongful reasons to terminate an employee include:
- Pregnancy discrimination
- Retaliation for taking rightful FMLA leave
- Retaliation for seeking ADA accommodations
- Racial discrimination
- Retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim
Discrimination can come in many different forms, and it can be for reasons that pertain to a person’s age, gender, religious beliefs, disability accommodations and more. If discrimination played a role in the loss of your job, you could have valid grounds to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or another agency. However, these types of claims are time sensitive, and your quick action can make a significant difference in the likelihood of a successful claim.
Defending your future employment interests
You have rights as an employee, including the right to seek justice after experiencing mistreatment or discrimination from an employer. If you are the victim of wrongful termination, you do not have to remain silent. Your quick action may help you preserve your interests and build a strong claim against your employer. An assessment of your employment contract and the details of your case may help you understand if you are a victim of wrongful termination and how you can fight back.
