The 3 Most Common Examples Of Wrongful Termination

Getting fired can feel unfair, but not every firing breaks the law. Wrongful termination happens when your employer fires you for a reason that violates legal protections. You might feel powerless in the moment, but you still have rights. Understanding what makes a firing illegal is the first step in fighting illegal job loss.

Some employers try to cover their tracks with vague excuses. Others may not even realize their actions are unlawful. Laws exist to protect workers from being fired for discriminatory, retaliatory, or other prohibited reasons. In this article, we will go over several examples of wrongful terminations. 

1 – Discrimination-based

Getting fired because of who you are can be against the law. If your boss lets you go because of your race, sex, age, religion, where you’re from, or a disability, that might count as wrongful termination. Federal law protects these traits, and many states add even more.

Here’s an example. You’re over 50, doing your job well, and helping younger coworkers. Then your boss hires someone much younger and lets you go. Around the same time, they start making comments about your age. If your age played a part in their decision, the firing may have been illegal.

Your employer is allowed to fire you for poor work, bad behavior, or even no reason in most cases. But they can’t fire you just because you belong to a protected group. Sometimes they won’t say it out loud, but their actions can still show it. If you notice changes in how you’re treated after telling them you’re pregnant or have a disability, pay attention.

2 – Breach of employment contract

If you had a contract that promised job security and your employer fired you without following it, that could be wrongful termination. A contract doesn’t have to be a long legal document. It might be a signed offer letter, an employee handbook, or even something your boss said and followed through on before. What matters is whether there was a clear promise and whether you relied on it.

Imagine you were told in writing that your job was guaranteed for a year, but you were fired after two months with no warning and no good reason. Even if the contract doesn’t spell out every detail, courts may still enforce it if it sets clear terms.

3 – Forced resignation

Sometimes you’re not directly fired, but your work conditions become so bad that quitting feels like the only option. This is called constructive discharge. If your employer creates or allows a hostile environment that forces you to resign, the law may still treat it as wrongful termination.

For example, if you face constant harassment, report it, and nothing changes, quitting doesn’t mean you gave up. It might mean your employer gave you no real choice. The same can happen if you’re repeatedly denied fair treatment, demoted without reason, or pressured to accept worse conditions just to stay employed.

Quitting doesn’t always mean the end of your rights. If your employer pushed you out by making your job unbearable, the law may be on your side.

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