Getting fired, especially in an unstable economy such as ours, can be a terrifying thing. When you are unsure where your next paycheck will be coming from, it can be difficult to focus on whether your rights were infringed upon. You need a wrongful termination lawyer on your side. Here are some common questions that employees have after they are terminated:
At-Will Employment: Can You Be Fired Without Cause?
Washington is an “at-will” employment state. This means that in most cases, your employer can fire you at any time for any reason (or no reason at all.) Therefore, wrongful termination cases only occur under very specific circumstances.
At-Will Employment: Can You Be Fired Without Cause?
Most wrongful termination is covered by anti-discrimination laws. The protected statuses for wrongful termination are the same as in those laws; you cannot be fired because of your race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.
If you have a specific contract with your employer that is broken by your termination, you may have been wrongfully terminated. Also, if you are a member of a union, you may be protected from being discharged without cause.
You cannot be terminated in retaliation for reporting wrongdoing on the part of your employer. If you see illegal activity, or if you or a co-worker is being discriminated against or harassed, you cannot be fired for reporting those incidents. You are also protected from being fired as a form of sexual harassment.
Steps to Take If You Suspect You Were Unjustly Fired
Wrongful termination can be a complicated issue, and it can be difficult to know where to turn if you believe that you were wrongfully terminated. The first step is to figure out why you believe you were wrongfully terminated:
Were you discriminated against because of a protected status (race, sex, etc.?)
Are you member of a union and protected by them?
Do you have an employment contract that precludes you from being terminated without cause?
Are you being sexually harassed?
Most of the time, figuring out why you were wrongfully terminated will set you on the path to getting justice. For example: If you were being discriminated against because of your protected status, you would need to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Often times it is difficult to sort through, and so it may be helpful to talk to an experienced Seattle employment lawyer to figure out what your next step should be.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful termination lawyer serving Washington, call (206) 285-1743
GET A FREE CASE EVALUATION
Why Premier Law Group is the Right Choice for Wrongful Termination Representation
At Premier Law Group, our wrongful termination lawyers understand that figuring out what to do after you have been terminated can be stressful and confusing, and we are here to help you through the process. We are aggressive employment attorneys with years of experience in successfully representing people who have been unfairly treated by their employer. We have won millions of dollars for our past clients, and we will do whatever we can to help you recover the maximum possible compensation. If you have been wrongfully terminated, visit one of our offices or call us at 206-285-1743.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.