Founder
Losing your job is never easy. However, being let go is even worse when you are terminated in violation of the law. There are several illegal reasons to terminate an employee, including those based on one’s protected status. In this article, we discuss some steps to take after being wrongfully terminated.
What is Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination occurs when an employer either violates the law or an employment contract when terminating an employee. Wrongful termination can occur due to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other reasons.
What to Do After a Wrongful Termination
Stay Calm
Losing your job—wrongful or not—can be extremely stressful. After being terminated, you’re likely to experience a variety of emotions, including anger, fear, anxiety, confusion, and more. However, it’s important to try to stay calm and focused despite your difficult situation. Staying calm will improve your odds of a successful outcome since a clear, focused mind will allow you to methodically take the steps necessary to pursue a successful resolution to your situation.
Review your termination letter
If you received a termination letter, you should review it to determine your employer’s official reason for your termination. After doing so, you should determine whether there is any merit to your employer’s claims. Often, an employer that wrongfully terminates an employee will provide an alternative reason for the termination to avoid the appearance of wrongdoing.
Gather Documentation
It’s difficult—if not impossible—to build a strong case for a lawsuit without convincing evidence. Therefore, you should begin gathering documentation as soon as possible after your termination. Examples of documentation to collect include text messages, emails, and letters. In addition, you should write down any verbal conversations you had with your employer about your termination. Generally, you should document anything that you think may be relevant to your situation.
Gather Witness Statements
If anyone observed any harassment, abuse, retaliation, or other illegal activities perpetrated against you by your employer, you should obtain statements from them. Generally, you should request statements from anyone who may have heard or witnessed this type of behavior. Each statement you obtain should include the name of the witness, the behavior observed, the approximate date and time of the behavior, and anything else that may be helpful in pursuing your wrongful termination case.
File Complaints
Next, you should consider filing complaints with federal and state agencies. On the federal side, you can file a complaint against your employer with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. And to file a complaint with your state, you should contact the agency in your state that handles employment issues.
Contact Our Experienced Rhode Island & Massachusetts Wrongful Termination Attorney
Finally, if you are a victim of wrongful termination, you should contact an experienced wrongful termination attorney. When you contact the Herman Law Group for assistance, we will guide you through the legal process and do what it takes to resolve your situation. Our attorneys are highly experienced in all types of employment law matters, and we are passionate about meeting the needs of our clients. Please contact us to arrange a consultation with our lawyer.