5 Signs You Were Illegally Fired from Your Job

Were you recently terminated for no apparent reason or a reason that seemed false to you? If so, you may have been illegally fired from your job. You can file a charge with the EEOC and you can sue your employer with the assistance of Rubin Law Corporation. There are a few things you will want to take into consideration before you decide to complain to the EEOC or sue.

1. Do You Belong to a Protected Class?

If you are over 40, have a physical disability or are a member of a minority race, you are considered part of a protected class by the EEOC. Likewise, an employer cannot fire you on the basis of sexual orientation, religion or gender. If you believe any of these characteristics may have had something to do with your termination, you will want to file a charge with the EEOC.

2. Was There a Violation of Public Policy?

Did you get fired right after taking time off to serve on a jury? Did you get fired right after you came back from a long medical leave? If so, you can sue your employer, but you will want to support your argument with as much documentation as possible. If you were fired for refusing to do something illegal, or for blowing the whistle on your employer, this would also be a violation of public policy.

3. Was There Defamation?

If your employer makes any public statement about you that is untrue and hurts your public reputation in some way, it may be considered defamation of character. If anyone at your former company has posted anything derogatory about you on social media, you may want to talk to an attorney about suing. If your employer has publicly blamed you for any mishaps at the company, you may also have a case.

4. Your Employer Lied to You

If your employer decides that they have had enough of you, they may try to get you to quit. Having an employee quit is quite a bit less expensive than firing them, as they don’t have to give you unemployment and they will not give you any severance pay. Some employers may try to get you to resign by feeding you information that is not true. They may tell you that the company is losing money or that someone complained about you when they did not. If you suspect your employer of committing fraud against you, you may be entitled to compensation.

5. Was there a breach of Fair Dealing?

If your employer promised you a bonus and did not give you one, or gave you a promotion where you ended up working longer hours for less pay, your attorney can argue that there was a breach of fair dealing. This argument will be easier to make if you have an explicitly written contract with your former employer

Hiring a Lawyer

Alice Walker once said that, “people give up their power by thinking they don’t have any.” As a result of this, many people decide that the money that they may or may not get is not worth the time and frustration of a lawsuit. However, the right attorney will make a well researched and passionate argument for your case. Losing a job is one of life’s toughest challenges, but fighting back can result in one of life's greatest triumphs.

*Authoritative Sources:

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/business-torts-unfair-competition/practice/2016/duty-of-good-faith-fair-dealing/

https://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1210&context=bjell

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.