when shoudni hire retaliatory wrongful terminatiin attorney

by Clementine Prosacco 5 min read

Another way to recognize if you have a suit for wrongful termination is retaliation. This is when you are fired for things such as complaining about wages or hours, harassment in the workplace, complaining of workplace safety, or complaining of illegal behavior going on in the firm. Why should you talk to a lawyer

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Do I have a wrongful termination claim for retaliation or whistleblowing?

Your wrongful termination lawyer can help you if you want to negotiate a severance package or a settlement or when you need to file administrative charges against your employer. If you have been asked to sign a waiver or a release of claims stating you will give up your right to sue in exchange for receiving a severance package, do not sign it until you have had an opportunity to …

When does an employer retaliate against an employee?

Dec 14, 2016 · When to Hire a Workplace Retaliation Attorney. Most of us want to do the right thing. Sometimes it works in our favor. Sometimes it doesn’t. If you “did the right thing” by reporting employment discrimination and now your employer is retaliating against you for your actions, you’re in a difficult spot. Most people need their jobs and ...

Can I sue for wrongful termination under Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower protection?

Jan 08, 2021 · The most frequent type of wrongful termination is when you get fired because of discrimination. Under federal and North Carolina law, it is illegal for a company to discriminate against an employee based on their age (older than forty), gender, race, skin color, religion, pregnancy, genetic information, and national origin. If you believe that your contract was …

Can I sue my employer for wrongful termination?

Below are some circumstances that could potentially trigger hiring an employment lawyer: If you have been harassed at work If you have been sexually assaulted at work If you have been discriminated at work If your employer has retaliated against you If you have been terminated without an excuse If your employer forces you to sign an agreement

Retaliation

Did you blow a whistle on a coworker or a superior? You might have reported someone at work for sexual harassment or for acting illegally. And if you did, you are protected by the law and should not have to lose your job. Retaliation would give you a strong basis for a wrongful termination case.

Defamation

When rumors or fake information are spread about an employee the employer might believe them and fire this individual without verifying whether these allegations are true. If this is your case, your wrongful termination lawyer will help you file your claim.

Discrimination

Much has been talked about discrimination and the fact that nobody can lose a job due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or age. However, terminations due to discrimination continue to happen.

Public Policy Violation

If you were fired because you are pregnant or just had a baby or maybe because you missed some days at work due to having to attend jury duty or because you had to take care of a loved one who is sick, you may have a wrongful termination case in your hands.

Problems with Your Contract or Pay

If you lose your job without due cause and there is a signed agreement that has thus been broken or if you are not being paid what and when you were told, such as when you fail to receive your commissions, having an attorney representing you can help you get the justice you deserve and protect your rights.

What Does it Take to Prove Workplace Retaliation?

First, to win an employment retaliation case you need to be able to show that your employer committed a negative job action towards you because of your employment discrimination report. The report may have involved you as the victim but it could also be on behalf of another employee or an illegal practice.

When Is It Time for an Employment Attorney?

There are a lot of complexities in an employment discrimination or workplace retaliation case. Working through the details is easier with someone who understands the nuances of the law. You need to meet all three of the following to have a successful workplace retaliation case:

Things to Know about Working with an Employment Retaliation Attorney

Unless you have an employer who outright admits it to you, as in “Go to HR and you can kiss that opportunity goodbye” (we all wish it was that transparent), you will need to prove one caused the other. This can sometimes be quite difficult but here’s how skilled employment attorneys handle it. They research and ascertain:

Your wrongful termination is illegal

Before we go deep into the article, you need to know that no law makes it illegal for a company to terminate its employees wrongfully.

North Carolina at-will employment exceptions

North Carolina has adopted the employment-at-will laws. These laws give companies the discretion to fire workers at any time, and for any reason, so long the company and employee have no contract that says otherwise (and if there are no other regulations about the relationship).

How to Recognize it

Before making a claim for wrongful termination, it’s essential to know how to recognize if you were wrongfully terminated or if the employer had a right to fire you. The first and most common way to recognize this is if you’ve been subject to discrimination.

Why should you talk to a lawyer

There are many signs that you may or may not have noticed which would be the grounds for hiring a lawyer in your wrongful termination suit. If you are given a waiver to sign as a condition of getting severance or better severance, then this can forfeit your right to sue the company.

What is wrongful termination?

A Wrongful termination claim results from a termination or the resignation (typically referred to as Constructive Discharge) of an Employee due to engaging in a protected activity or being the member of a protected class. Much like retaliation claims, wrongful termination and/constructive discharge is a very common issue that comes up in Employment Law and often serves as the last and final unlawful act taken by an Employer. Under state and/or federal laws is illegal for an employer to discharge an employee for these reasons.

Why is it important to speak up?

Speaking up is the first step to creating change. Some people fear the consequences of speaking up and how it may change their life. Speaking up may cause pressure on you but it is the right thing to do.

What are the laws that protect workers from retaliation?

Here are some of the most common laws protecting workers from retaliation: 1 Workplace harassment and discrimination. You may not be fired for making a complaint (whether to your own HR department or to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) about harassment or discrimination in the workplace; for participating in an investigation of these issues; or for exercising your rights under these laws (by, for example, requesting a reasonable accommodation for your disability or your religious practices). 2 Wage and hour laws. Your employer may not fire you for complaining, whether internally or to the Department of Labor, that your employer has failed to pay the minimum wage, failed to pay overtime, denied legally required breaks, or illegally kept a portion of your tips, for example. 3 Leave laws. You can't be fired for exercising your right to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or similar state laws, to take workers' compensation leave, to take time off to vote or serve on a jury, to take paid sick leave (if required by state or local law), or to take any other legally protected time off work. 4 Health and safety laws. You may not be fired for reporting, whether within your company or to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, health and safety violations at your workplace. 5 Worker's compensation laws. Your employer may not fire or otherwise penalize you for filing a workers' compensation claim for an on-the-job injury.

What is whistleblowing in business?

Whistleblowing occurs when an employee reports illegal conduct at work that is not related to workplace rights. For example, you are a whistleblower if you report that your company is cooking the books; engaging in shareholder fraud; producing faulty, dangerous, or mislabeled products; or lying on its tax returns.

Can you be fired for taking sick leave?

You can't be fired for exercising your right to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or similar state laws, to take workers' compensation leave, to take time off to vote or serve on a jury, to take paid sick leave (if required by state or local law), or to take any other legally protected time off work.

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer will review all of the facts, explain your potential claims, and estimate how much your claims might be worth. A lawyer can also help you decide on the best strategy to vindicate your rights, whether through negotiating with your employer, filing a complaint with a government agency, or going to court.

Can you sue your employer for wrongful termination?

If your employer fired you for reporting illegal behavior or exercising your legal rights, you may be able to sue for wrongful termination. Below, we explain how to pursue your claim.

What do you do if you are fired for retaliation?

For example, if you were fired for complaining of workplace harassment or discrimination, you will need to first file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you want to sue for wrongful termination in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower protections, you must first file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Do lawyers get paid if you win?

This means the lawyer is paid only if you win, out of the money you receive through a court award or a settlement with your employer. Some retaliation statutes include an attorneys' fees provision, requiring a losing employer to pay the winning employee's legal fees.