Most workers in New York and New Jersey are at-will employees, which means the employer can terminate them at any time without having to show cause. However, state and federal law prohibits employers from firing employees for unlawful reasons. If you were fired in retaliation for exercising a legally protected right, you can seek damages. As a leading employment litigation law firm in northern New Jersey, Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. assists workers who have been illegally discharged. We can evaluate your case and help you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible.
An employer cannot discharge an employee for reasons related to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion or sexual orientation. This is considered discrimination under state and federal employment law. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination; if an employer fires a worker for refusing to submit to sexual advances, that is also “wrongful” termination. Other unlawful purposes include:
Unlawful termination can be an overt firing or a constructive discharge whereby the employer makes the worker’s life so miserable, due to his/her being in a protected class or blowing the whistle, that the worker resigns.
Whether you were fired for informing the government about a company’s illegal activities or for another protected reason, remedies are available for “wrongful” termination.
“Wrongful” termination is not easy to prove. It requires a skilled attorney capable of assembling the evidence and constructing a persuasive case before a judge or jury.
Your job is your lifeline; don’t be afraid to fight for it! Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. provides aggressive employment litigation services. Call us today at 551-245-8894 or online to schedule a confidential phone consultation. Our firm has offices in Bergen County, New Jersey and Rockland County, New York.