Did you know that close to 150,000 people are wrongfully fired each year in the United States of America? Unfortunately, wrongful termination happens and you need to be prepared in case you’re the next victim of getting wrongfully let go. Knowing your employee rights will help you to protect yourself and your family when you lose your income due to wrongful termination.
Getting wrongfully fired brings on a challenge that many people aren’t prepared for and are unsure of how to move forward from. It is one thing to have your career affected but a wrongful termination is enough to throw off your entire life.
If you’re worried that you won’t know what to do if this unfortunate thing happens to you then you’re in luck. You’ve come to the perfect place to learn all about employment law and when the right time is to hire an employment attorney.
Keep reading this article to learn more today.
Stay Professional
The first thing that you need to focus on after you’ve been wrongfully fired is remaining professional throughout. It is normal to feel a rush of emotions that range from anger to anxiety but you should do your best to control these emotions and stay under control. May times after a wrongful termination the employee has to return to the office to pick up a final check or get a W-2 for tax purposes.
If this happens to you then it is the best course of action to return to the office or place of business with a professional and polite attitude. Returning with anger will give the employer more evidence that you were a troublesome and difficult employee.
At this point, you should also reach out to an employment attorney to find out if your case has merit and will hold up in court. They will advise you on the best course of action for moving forward after your wrongful termination.
Consult With Your Employment Attorney
The next step in the process of figuring out what to do when you’ve been wrongfully let go is to consult with your employment attorney. Having the help and knowledge of an employment attorney that has expertise on employment rights makes your experience much less stressful. You could even look for a specialist wrongful termination attorney in this case, as they will have the necessary knowledge and experience to guide you properly throughout the process.
You’ll have a much easier time making decisions that are right for your future and lead you to where you want to go. The best part of hiring WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWYERS is that they’ve worked with hundreds of people that are going through the exact same thing that you’re currently experiencing.
These lawyers will know your rights and they’ll have expertise on what qualifies as employee discrimination. Some states are “at-will” states. That means that they allow businesses to fire employees at any time and for any reason. That doesn’t mean that they’re not subject to federal law.
There are a number of reasons why you may have gotten wrongfully fired. If you think it was because of your age, race, gender, or disability then you are a perfect candidate to file a lawsuit against your former employer. This also applies to other types of discrimination like religious discrimination or discrimination based on sexual preference.
If you think you’re a victim of any of those types of discrimination and you haven’t reached out to an employment attorney then you should find a reputable lawyer near you that will help. Keep in mind that there are statutes of limitations on when you report the discrimination so the sooner the better if you want to file a lawsuit.
Ask Why You Were Fired
In addition to hiring an employment attorney and consulting with them, you should also ask your former employer and previous boss for the reasons behind your firing. The more information that you have surrounding your wrongful termination case the better off you’ll be.
Odds are that your former employer won’t be open with you about their reasons for letting you go. Still, any information that you can get is immensely valuable when used towards helping you win your case. You should also make sure that you have copies of documentation from your time at that business.
Things like performance reviews and emails are great resources. Your employment attorney can use them to help you get the settlement that you deserve. Do your best to conserve this information and get it before your employer has a chance to destroy or erase it.
Find Out Who Made the Decision to Fire You
Another thing that you should try to do is find out who made the call or the decision to let you go at your previous employer. Finding out who made the decision is an important factor and is of great use when it comes to your employee rights. Think about your managers and supervisors that you worked for.
If you have any supervisors that you can remember making you feel uncomfortable then it could be that person that made the call for your wrongful termination. This is especially true if you remember supervisors making comments to you based on your age or your gender while you were at work.
It could also be a case of a supervisor retaliating against you for making a complaint about them harassing you. Those are two prominent cases of wrongful termination cases. It is important that you think about and identify incidents similar to those.
Don’t Get Intimidated
Odds are that your former employer will try to intimidate you and get in your head to keep you from getting help from an employment attorney. It is no secret that employers that are party to wrongful termination get aggressive towards the person that they let go.
Your employer has a lawyer on retainer. They will do everything that they can to make you feel like you don’t have a chance at winning if you file a lawsuit for getting wrongfully let go. They’re using this intimidation tactic in hopes that you don’t file suit against them for their violation of employment law.
If you feel like you have a real case for workplace discrimination and wrongful termination then you should reach out to an employment attorney and schedule a consultation. These attorneys are qualified and trained to stand up for you against the employer’s lawyers on your behalf.
You need to start the process of filing a lawsuit against your former employer from a place of strength. There is no better way to do that than by hiring an employment attorney to help you form a case.
Ask for a Severance Package
It is also a great idea to ask for a severance package from your former employer. Make sure that you talk this over with your employment attorney before moving forward as they’ll have some helpful advice. The lawyer will help you decide if this is the best course of action for you to take.
They’re also a great resource when it comes to figuring out what you should ask for in your severance package. Keep in mind that this situation doesn’t apply to every wrongful termination.
If you do ask for a severance package then it is best to remain calm during your negotiations and communication with your former employer. You also need to remember that it is a mistake to accept the first offer that they make. Do your best to get everything in writing as well so that it holds up in court should something go wrong.
Don’t Procrastinate
As mentioned earlier, there is a statute of limitations on reporting workplace discrimination. This also applies to wrongful termination. It is tempting to hold off on reporting the wrongful termination. Get in contact with an employment attorney but you need to force yourself to get this part of the process done.
Procrastination often happens because of anxiety related to the outcome of a stressful situation. Your situation will only get worse if you put off the process of filing a lawsuit against your former employer for being wrongfully let go. The sooner that you get started with the process the higher the chances are that your employer will get held accountable for their actions.
Taking these steps will help you ensure that you have money coming in so that you can continue providing for your family. It is also a big step to take for a brighter future and get your career back on track.
Take These Steps if You’ve Been Wrongfully Fired
Getting wrongfully fired is never a good feeling and it often will feel like a major betrayal. It is important that you stay professional throughout the process of determining if you have a valid case for wrongful termination. You should also avoid procrastinating when it comes to finding an employment attorney. That keeps the statute of limitations from running out.
Most of all, use your employment attorney’s expertise and knowledge to negotiate for a strong severance package. Don’t get intimidated by the former employer’s antics.
For more helpful articles, make sure you check out the rest of our website.
