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Wrongful Termination
State and federal law prohibit employers from firing employees for certain reasons, including discrimination and refusal to participate in illegal or discriminatory actions. However, people also get fired for legitimate reasons like poor performance, insubordination, and unethical conduct, so it can be challenging to distinguish whether a firing is considered wrongful under the law. At Connor & Morneau, LLP, our employment lawyers can evaluate your case and determine whether a wrongful termination claim may be warranted.
What Is At-Will Employment?
Because most states have at-will employment laws, wrongful termination cases can be an uphill battle. At-will employment legislation enables employers to terminate your employment at any time for almost any reason. While most employers give workers fair warning about performance issues and give them time to correct them, the truth is you can be let go for something as simple as a personality clash. However, you may have a case for wrongful termination if your firing stems from illegal discrimination, sexual harassment, and other violations of employment law and public policy.
What Is Considered Wrongful Termination?
Losing your job can have devastating financial and emotional repercussions, and it can be especially painful when you believe you were wrongfully fired. Although employers in at-will states can fire someone for a wide range of reasons, they do not have the right to fire you for an illegal reason. If an employer lets you go in retaliation for something that is protected under the law or public policy, you may have a wrongful termination claim.
Laws protect employees who are fired due to:
- Discrimination based on race, nationality, religion, gender, age, and other protected categories
- Exercising a lawful employee right
- Requesting time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Refusing to engage in unethical, unsafe, or illegal acts
- Whistleblower retaliation
- Retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim
- Retaliation for reporting OSHA or health code violations
- Discussing certain labor-related issues such as unionizing
- Wage, hour, and overtime disputes
- Violation of an employment contract
If any of these reasons apply in your situation, you may have a strong case for wrongful termination.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
If our team determines that you have been wrongfully terminated from your job, we can fight to help you recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages such as emotional distress. Although remedies for wrongful termination vary by jurisdiction, some commonly available remedies include back pay, front pay, litigation costs and attorney fees, reinstatement to your position, and other compensatory damages.
Wrongful termination claims are complex. Filing deadlines, statutes of limitations, and procedures for filing a claim can vary widely by state. Our attorneys have represented many unions in employment litigation and have handled some of the most noteworthy wage and hour and employment discrimination cases in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. We’re passionate about protecting your rights and holding employers accountable for their unlawful actions.
Contact A Springfield Employment Attorney To Learn More
If you believe you have been a victim of wrongful termination, the employment lawyers at Connor & Morneau, LLP can help. We provide the quality legal representation you need to protect your rights and reputation. We serve clients in Hampden, Franklin Berkshire, and Worcester counties and throughout Western New England. To schedule a consultation, contact us at 413-455-1730. We look forward to serving your legal needs.
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Our legal team is committed to working diligently toward the best outcomes. Contact us today at (413) 455-1730 for more information on our comprehensive legal services.
