Anytime someone is let go from a professional position, they are likely to feel slighted and wronged. Getting fired or laid off — no matter how much it might hurt — doesn’t always mean you were wrongfully discharged. Here are some legal reasons that you might have been let go unlawfully.
If you had a contract and your employer breached it in some way, you might have the grounds for a lawsuit or legal action. The results of such an action might be to get your position back or to get financial or other consideration for the damages caused by the breach in contract.
If you were let go solely because of your gender, race or other demographic, then you might be able to file action because of discrimination. The employer will likely attempt to show that you were let go because of another reason, and working with an experienced wrongful termination lawyer can help you make a more successful case.
Another reason for wrongful termination is if you were let go after you reported some type of illegal or unethical behavior. For example, if you report sexual harassment or a potential OSHA violation to your supervisor and are let go the next week, then you might have been fired in retaliation for the report. This is illegal and can constitute a wrongful termination case.
There are some other situations that can constitute wrongful termination — and many others that might seem wrongful to you at the time but aren’t legally an issue for the employer. By consulting with a legal professional, you can understand the difference and what your options might be moving forward.
Source: FindLaw, “Wrongful Termination Claims,” accessed April 28, 2017