Employers can legally discriminate against workers for some reasons, but not others. An employer may have a legitimate business reason for giving a raise to one worker and not another, or for firing one worker and not another. But certain types of discrimination are illegal under federal and state laws. For example, it is illegal for an employer to fire a worker on the basis of the worker’s race or religion.
When an employee has been fired for an unlawful reason, they may have legal recourse through a wrongful termination claim. Monetary damages and severance may be available to workers who have been wrongfully terminated, so it is essential for workers who think they might have been wrongful terminated to be familiar with the legal protections available to them.
It is, of course, helpful for workers who have been fired to understand and be familiar with what makes a termination wrongful. Any firing in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws may be considered wrongful; firing that is a form of sexual harassment may be considered wrongful; firing in violation of employment agreements may be considered wrongful; firing in violation of labor laws may be considered wrongful; and any firing that is in response to the worker filing a complaint against their employer may be considered wrongful.
If a worker believes they are suffering workplace discrimination and is terminated after reporting it, this may be an example of wrongful termination. Because of the workplace discrimination and wrongful termination protections available through the law, it is important for workers to be familiar with their rights and now how to enforce them when necessary.
Workers should understand their right to a discrimination-free workplace and understand that they cannot be wrongfully terminated.
