You have worked hard for years to meet your career goals. You and everyone who depends on you deserve the rewards for all the nights and weekends you spent away from them, working diligently. Then, out of nowhere, you are called into a senior executive’s office and told you are being let go. To smooth your transition, all you need to do is sign a severance agreement right away stating you can have a week’s or two weeks’ severance, as long as you keep the nature of your departure confidential. Just like that, your life has been turned upside down.
If you find yourself facing a similar situation, it is essential that you understand your rights. Schedule a consultation with Seldon Bofinger today to discuss your firing with a Washington, D.C. wrongful termination lawyer. Our team of seasoned employment law attorneys can help you hold your employer accountable and receive the compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
What is a Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is let go for illegal reasons that violate their rights under local, state, and federal law or violates what the law recognizes as the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. While employment is generally considered at-will, meaning either the employer or the employee can sever an employer-employee relationship at any time, there are many circumstances where employees and prospective employees have rights when they have relied, to their detriment, on promises and representations by employers to take new jobs or stay in previous positions. If you moved or sold your house based on an offer of a new job that did not materialize, or stayed in your job through a reorganization or a reduction in force on the promise that you would still have your job when it was over, you should consider consulting with an experienced lawyer with Seldon Bofinger to see about recovering your losses.
Even when employment is at will, there are many situations where firing or even losing out on a promotion or being demoted is unlawful. The most common of which involves an employee losing their job because of a protected characteristic, such as:
- Race
- Sex
- Disability
- Religion
- Age
- Sexual orientation
- National origin
The law prohibits workplace discrimination based on these and other protected characteristics. Similarly, it is illegal to fire you in retaliation for filing an EEO complaint or pursuing a lawsuit, reporting misconduct, or even providing witness testimony during an investigation or a lawsuit.
Be aware that employers acting unlawfully often provide unreasonable or inaccurate reasons when wrongfully terminating, discriminating against, or retaliating against an employee. For example, they may accuse you of using the company credit card for personal matters, even if your boss said they were going to be out of town and that you should get the perk of taking a new client out. They may claim you missed your productivity goals or sales quotas, or that the quality of your work is not what it used to be. Perhaps they believe the new head of your department just doesn’t have the same rapport with you.
If the reason your employer provides for letting you go does not make sense, reach out to a Washington, D.C. wrongful termination lawyer. Our team can examine the facts of your situation to determine whether your employer has acted illegally.
You Have Rights
Also, while at-will employees can be let go without advance notice, you may have rights under an employment contract. But even if you do not, that does not mean you do not have rights. In the workplace, you have the right to be free from discrimination, ridicule, demands for sex, or retaliation in your termination, demotion, reassignment, or denial of RA. A wrongful termination attorney at our Washington, D.C. firm can help you enforce these rights, representing you in pursuing a claim against your employer or former employer.
The remedies available to you for unlawful dismissal depend on several factors that are unique to your situation. Our team can help determine what you may recover, such as compensation for lost wages and benefits. Another potential remedy is the reinstatement of your old job. If that is not possible, you may be eligible for payments to cover expenses while you find new employment. In circumstances of egregious misconduct, courts may even award punitive damages.
Contact a Washington, D.C. Attorney if You Have Been Unlawfully Fired
If you believe you unlawfully lost your job, contact a Washington, D.C. wrongful termination lawyer at Seldon Bofinger today to learn about your options and to schedule a consultation. You may be entitled to recover lost wages or even seek reinstatement.
We understand unlawful terminations cause significant stress and uncertainty, and our experienced attorneys are ready to provide you with the support you need.