Though 91% of people who are fired go on to find new jobs that are even better than their old ones, termination is still an incredibly stressful experience. This anxiety is only magnified when you suspect that you were fired unfairly.
If you suspect that your termination was unlawful or happened as a result of false accusations, you have every right to take legal action. Read on for some ways that you can easily identify whether you being fired was within the bounds of the law.
1. False Accusations Led to Termination
The easiest way to identify that you were wrongfully fired is when it was done as a result of false accusations. For example, if you were fired for stealing company resources despite never having done so, you were unfairly fired.
But, you may be asking, can I sue my employer for firing me under false accusations?
In many cases, the answer is ‘yes.’ However, you will need a good lawyer to prove that the accusations were indeed untrue before you receive compensation. Do your research and discover more about how this works.
2. You Fall Into a Protected Class
Generally, it’s legal for your boss to fire you for no reason whatsoever. However, if they fire you despite your having done nothing wrong and they keep employees who aren’t of a protected class, you may be able to sue.
It’s illegal to discriminate against employees for race, religion, gender identity/presentation, or sexual orientation. If your former boss had a history of saying racist/sexist/homophobic things and then fired you, you might have a case. Talk to an attorney to learn more about what it means to be fired while in a protected class.
Pregnant women also are protected under these standards, so you cannot be fired because of pregnancy.
3. Firing You Was a Contract Violation
When you were hired, you almost certainly had to sign various forms regarding your employment. Most contracts specify ‘at-will’ employment, but occasionally a contract will state that you can’t be fired without good cause. This means that you aren’t an at-will employee and can’t be fired simply because your boss felt like it.
Assuming that you’re NOT an at-will employee, firing you for no reason is illegal.
4. You Were Fired for Exercising Employee Rights
Employees at any company have the right to:
If you were immediately fired after exercising one of these rights, you were likely unfairly fired.
What to Do When You’re Fired Unfairly
While there are a lot of reasons that you may be fired from a job, it’s important to make sure that your employer’s reasons were both legal and just. If you suspect that this was not the case, you may want to take action immediately.
Now that you know some of the biggest signs that you were fired unfairly, it’s time to learn more. Check out the ‘legal’ section under the ‘business’ tab on our home page. Here, you’ll get more information on how to get justice and compensation for unfair termination.
