Synopsis

  • It is against the law for an employer to terminate an employee out of discrimination
    or retaliation, but it still happens.
  • Although the signs of being wrongfully terminated aren’t always clear,
    some employers will use careful language to mask their unlawful firing
    like, “We were thinking it’s time for you to retire, so I
    went ahead and got the paperwork started.”
  • If you have a case, strict deadlines may apply, and you may be required
    to report illegal discrimination or harassment to be entitled to recover
    any type of compensation.
  • Before taking action that could result in your loss of ability to recover
    compensation for violations of your rights, get in touch with the attorneys
    at Wagner Reese as soon as you have been fired. We can help.

Wrongful Termination Can Present Itself in Many Ways

It is against the law for employers to fire an employee out of discrimination
(race, gender, national origin, disability, religion, or age) or retaliation
(complaints about the employer’s OSHA violations or ethical concerns).
Your employer cannot fire or take action against you for complaining against
unlawful discrimination or harassment of yourself or others. In addition,
federal law makes it illegal for employers to fire an employee because
she is pregnant or has a medical condition that is related to her pregnancy
or childbirth.

At times, wrongful termination may be obvious and presented to an employee
with language like:

  • “We were thinking it’s time for you to retire, I have started
    the paperwork for you.”
  • “Have you thought about resigning after that OSHA safety issue you
    reported?”
  • “We have decided to let you go because you are just too old for the
    job.”
  • “You have been let go because your military service requires you
    to be off work too much.”

The signs may not be that clear though, so if you believe your employer has
wrongfully fired you, there are several things you need to do immediately to present a
case of wrongful termination.

  1. Gather all documentation regarding your termination. If you don’t
    have these things, you can request them from your employer. Ask for your
    performance records, history of reviews, and details of your employment history.
  2. Make a list of all the people who were responsible for managing you and
    reviewing your work contributions, as well as coworkers who can serve
    as witness to any discrimination or may have heard discussions of your
    firing. Collect their contact information.
  3. Create a timeline of events that represent occurrences that could have
    contributed to your unreasonable termination.
  4. Contact the employment attorneys at Wagner Reese at (888) 204-8440.

If you have been the victim of
unlawful employment discrimination, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Back Pay – wages or salary and benefits lost due to termination
  • Front Pay – future loss of wages
  • Compensatory Damages – pain and suffering, mental anguish, and distress
  • Liquidated Damages – equal to the amount of back pay
  • Punitive Damages – to punish the employer and deter future violations

Your employer may try to convince you to resign rather than be fired or
to sign a release and waiver of all claims against the employer. Before
taking action that could result in your loss of ability to recover compensation
for violations of your rights, contact us for a free case assessment.
We can also assist you in filing a complaint with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and represent you in Indiana state and federal courts.

Call Us If You Have Been Wrongfully Terminated

If you feel you have been wrongfully terminated, the attorneys at Wagner
Reese can help you. Call the law firm of Wagner Reese today at (888) 204-8440 or
submit the online form, and our attorneys will respond promptly. The call is free, and we only
get paid when we recover for you.