Chicago, IL Wrongful Termination Attorneys
UNDERSTANDING
WRONGFUL TERMINATION
AND YOUR RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE
In an "at-will" employment setting, employers retain the latitude to terminate employees for a multitude of reasons, even without cause, as long as these actions remain within legal and ethical boundaries. A pivotal exception surfaces when an employee can demonstrate that their termination breached state or federal anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation regulations.
Entities governed by anti-discrimination laws are unequivocally barred from dismissing employees based on factors like race, age, sex, and other safeguarded categories. In many instances, employers are also prohibited from firing whistleblowers, employees who report workplace irregularities or concerns about wages and conditions, and those who have filed workers' compensation claims.
For employees who suspect their termination was retaliatory, it's important to understand that this conduct could stem from reporting the employer to state or federal authorities in specific protected scenarios. Recognizing these circumstances is a crucial first step in determining whether a termination crossed the line from lawful to wrongful.
Wrongful termination claims are grounded in the principle of holding employers accountable when a firing violates the law. Because employees who succeed in proving wrongful or retaliatory termination may be entitled to back wages, fines, or punitive damages, it's important to build a case that clearly demonstrates the true reason behind your dismissal.
