Getting a pink slip may send you scurrying to find another job to pay the bills. However, if the reasons behind your termination are sketchy, you may have a case for illegal termination.
Before pursuing legal action, familiarize yourself with what constitutes unlawful termination. Discover what an employer can and cannot do when firing you and see if you have the evidence to prove it.
Was the reason for poor performance?
Your employer may have given you a performance-related reason for the dismissal. The time leading up to your termination should include documentation that the employer coached or counseled you on where your performance was lacking and ways to fix it. If there is clear documentation, then your termination may prove valid. However, if your performance was acceptable until the point of your firing, you may want to consider other more underlying reasons.
What may constitute an illegal termination?
An employer may want to get rid of you for various reasons, but that does not mean it can happen. Laws dictate how companies must behave when terminating an employee. Some of the most common illegal reasons for firing you are:
- You exposed something wrong within the company or the product (whistleblower)
- You refused a boss’s inappropriate sexual advance
- You would not lie or commit fraud to protect your employer
How can you prove illegal termination?
If you are the victim of inappropriate action, you may have the evidence you need and not realize it. With the rise of electronic communication, you may have emails or access to messages that show a pattern set by your employer of poor behavior. For instance, if your employer discussed race, ethnicity or gender, it may prove your termination falls under discrimination.
Compensation for an employer’s poor behavior can help you overcome financial setbacks that may occur in the wake of a sudden job loss.