In most states, employment is considered at-will, which allows employers to terminate employers anytime, for any reason. Although many may believe that being terminated for no reason at all is wrongful, legally, a wrongful termination involves the termination of an employee for an illegal reason. An example of unlawful termination is discrimination. Employees that are terminated on the basis of their sex, race, disability, age, religion, pregnancy or national origin are victims of discrimination and unlawful termination.
Employment contracts include responsibilities, benefits etc. of future employees and employers must not breach this contract. If an employment contract includes aspects of job security, such as stating an employee will only be fired if they fail to reach a certain goal, then termination of that employee for any other reason may be considered unlawful termination. Also, signing an employment contract may help prove that you are not an at-will employee.
Retaliation against whistleblowers, resulting in termination, is also considered unlawful. Whistleblower actions are protected by state and federal laws, making it illegal for an employee to suffer adverse employment actions as a result of engaging in legally protected activities. Retaliation is a form of discrimination, and termination that is a result of such actions is unlawful.
Termination of a job is sometimes hard to deal with, especially depending on the reason for termination. Certain reasons for termination are unlawful, which is why it is important to know your rights as an employee. If you have been unlawfully terminated and would like to know your rights, call 1-833-DARFOOR for a free consultation.
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