If you’re wrongfully terminated from your job, it’s important that you don’t simply walk away and begin your search for a new opportunity. Instead, learn more about what went wrong with a focus on protecting your legal rights.
There are many forms of wrongful termination, including but not limited to:
- Termination as the result of reporting sexual harassment or discrimination
- Termination as the result of “blowing the whistle” on your employer
- Termination in violation of labor laws, such as those associated with The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
If you have any reason to believe you were the victim of wrongful termination, here are the steps you should take:
- Don’t act out against your employer, such as by destroying property on the way out the door
- Review your employment contract and employee handbook to better understand your working agreement
- Inquire about your termination
- Ask who made the final decision to terminate your employment
- Request access to your personnel file
- Ask the HR department about any severance package due to you (you can negotiate this)
- Don’t cave in as the result of intimidation
- Return all property that belongs to your employer
It can be difficult to follow these steps when you’re upset and worried about your future, however, doing so will put you in a better position.
If you’ve done all these things and still feel that you were wrongfully terminated, it’s time to collect all the necessary information and learn more about your legal rights. You can take action against your employer with the hopes of reinstatement or receiving compensation for your wrongful termination.
