Taking Legal Action After You Have Been Fired
You rely on your job to generate the income needed to support yourself. Losing your source of employment unexpectedly by being fired can be stressful. If you believe that you have been terminated unjustly, then you may be able to take legal action against your former employer to help cover any damages you suffered as a result of your termination.
There are some factors that you should consider before filing a lawsuit to determine if you have a case against your former employer.
1. Employment Contracts
It's important that you identify whether or not you and your employer had a contractual agreement. Employment contracts between an employer and an employee, or contracts that are established through membership in a professional union, are designed to protect both parties against unlawful actions.
Your contract will outline the actions that must be taken prior to termination. If protocol was not followed by your employer, then you may be able to take legal action against him or her for violating the terms of your employment contract.
2. Retaliation
Employees should feel safe in their work environment. Employers have an obligation to create a safe workplace by adhering to safety practices and preventing harassment. If you reported your employer for violating safety codes or made a sexual harassment claim, your employer cannot fire you as a result of your actions.
If you fear that your termination was a retaliatory action taken against you by your former employer, an attorney will be able to help you prove that your claims of harassment or unsafe working conditions caused you to be unlawfully fired.
3. Discrimination
Some employers might discriminate against you because of certain attributes that you embody. If you were fired for actions that others within your company also engaged in without recourse, and the only difference between you and the offending coworkers is your sex, race, age, or religion, then you may have been a victim of discrimination.
It is illegal for employers to engage in discrimination. An attorney experienced in employment law will be able to evaluate the events that led up to your termination to determine if discrimination played a role in firing. If you have been discriminated against, you can file a lawsuit against your employer to seek compensation for his or her illegal actions.
Losing your job can be disheartening, but being fired unlawfully can be cause for serious concern. Take legal action by partnering with an experienced employment law attorney firm, like John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC, if you feel the terms of your contract were violated, that your termination was a retaliatory action, or you were the victim of discrimination.
