Fired In An At-Will Employment State? 4 Signs You Need To Speak To An Employment Attorney
If you've recently been fired, and you live in an at-will employment state, you might not think you have any grounds to fight the termination. In most instances, that might be the case. In at-will employment states, employers can terminate employment for any reason. However, employers cannot break the law when firing an employee. If you've been fired for an illegal reason, you might be the victim of wrongful termination. If that's the case, you might have a legal case against your employer. Read the information provided below. If any of the situations described below pertain to your loss of employment, it's time to talk to an employment attorney.
Termination Policy Violation
If you've been fired from your place of employment, take a close look at the termination policy. Your employee handbook should include the specific termination policy of the company you worked for. You might not realize this, but employers must adhere to the termination policy described in the employee handbook, even in an at-will state. If your employer violated company policy when they terminated your employment, hire an employment attorney right away.
Employment Discrimination
If you've recently had your employment terminated, and you believe that you're the victim of discrimination, you need to hire an employment attorney. You may work in an at-will employment state, but that doesn't give your employer the right to discriminate against you. Employment discrimination includes discrimination against your gender, race, religion, age, or disability. Signs of employment discrimination can include termination after recently giving birth, or after identifying as transgender. If any of these situations exist, contact an employment attorney.
Implied Contract Dispute
If you've been fired from your job, and you didn't have a formal employment contract, you might not have any legal recourse, that might not be the case. This is especially true if there was an implied contract between you and your employer. An implied contract can exist when you and your employer had a verbal agreement, or when you're made to believe that your job was secure. To find out if you're the victim of an implied contract dispute over your termination, speak to an employment attorney as soon as you can.
Employee Retaliation
Finally, if you were involved in a whistleblower case against your employer, and you believe that your employment was terminated as a result of that involvement, it's time to seek legal assistance. An employment attorney can determine whether you have grounds for a wrongful termination claim against your employer.
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