If you have been fired from your job recently and feel that you were terminated wrongfully, then you may have the right to bring a wrongful termination lawsuit against your previous employer.
Losing your job can be a difficult situation to go through, especially if you do not believe that you should have been fired.
There are several things that could mean a termination was done wrongfully or illegally and knowing what to do if you think that your termination was not lawful is important.
What Makes a Termination Wrongful?
There are many valid reasons why somebody might lose their job.
However, if you were fired as a form of discrimination or sexual harassment, fired in retaliation for a complaint that you filed against your employer, or fired in violation of written employment agreements or labor laws, then you may have a case.
When they can be proven, violations such as these can carry statutory penalties for your former employer, which usually involves the employer being required to pay substantial damages to the employee to compensate for their loss of earnings and more.
What To Do Next
If you have recently been fired from your job and believe that the termination was wrongful, it’s important to stay calm and avoid acting instinctively on the negative feelings that you may have towards your former employer right now.
Check your contract for any information that you may be able to use to strengthen your wrongful termination case.
It may also be worth making some inquiries to find out more about who decided to fire you and the reasons behind their decision.
Ask to view your personnel file and consider using any promises that were previously made by your employer to negotiate a severance package.
Finally, make sure that you return any company property that you are still in possession of. A wrongful termination lawyer in Colorado such as Baird Quinn can help you take these steps successfully.
What to Document
In the case of wrongful termination, there will usually be an illegal reason for why the termination occurred.
To support your claim of wrongful termination against your employer, it is important to know what you should document.
You should keep hold of any documents that prove you were employed by the company, the value of any benefits that you have lost since losing your job, proof of any disciplinary or corrective actions taken against you before your employment was terminated, and proof of the termination itself including when and how it happened, and what was said.
Documentation of how your employer acted in a way that was discriminatory or retaliatory against you will also substantially support your claim, including evidence of any derogatory remarks that have been made against you by your former employer or representatives.
If you are fired for an illegal reason, then you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim against your former employer.
If you believe that the reason you have lost your job shouldn’t be a valid reason to be fired, the best thing to do is contact a wrongful termination lawyer who can help.
About The Author:
Maggie Hammond. Proud mama to two little people, and has one too many furry friends. Passionate about alternative medicine, education, the great outdoors, and animal welfare.
