Your employer has the legal right to terminate your employment, but that doesn’t give them the power to do whatever they want with regard to your relationship. For example, wrongful termination could come into play, during which your employer violates your rights and the law.
Here are some of the most common reasons for wrongful termination:
- Discrimination: From your age to your religion to your sex, your employer is not permitted to discriminate against you in any way. This can include termination among other things, such as a demotion or pay cut.
- Retaliation: Your employer could retaliate against you for a variety of reasons. For example, if you file a workers’ compensation claim, they may take it out on you by terminating your employment. The same holds true if you report your employer for some type of wrongdoing, such as tax fraud.
- Violating your employment contract: When you signed on with your employer, there’s a good chance you agreed to the terms and conditions of an employment contract. This outlines a variety of details, such as the reasons for which your employer can terminate your employment. It’s important to review this contract should your employer take steps to terminate you.
- Violation of your employee handbook: Just the same as your employment contract, your employee handbook shares information on aspects related to the company and its termination policies. Along with your contract, review all applicable sections of the handbook. This may lead you to a detail that protects your legal rights.
What you should do next
The second you catch wind of your termination, regardless of where it comes from, is when you should begin to take action. Start by asking your employer for a clear reason for your termination. They should be able to provide you with this, but don’t be surprised if they disguise it as something else, such as cut backs.
Also, collect evidence to back up your claim that you were wrongfully terminated. Once you’ve done this, you can learn more about your legal rights and the steps you can take to protect them. Don’t let your employer get the best of you.