As an employee, you have certain rights that you may exercise in the workplace. For example, if you are the victim of harassment or discrimination, you have the right to speak out and seek justice. However, it is not always easy to do this, and you can face backlash for doing so. In some cases, people may actually experience wrongful termination, losing their jobs for doing what they thought was right.
If you believe that you are the victim of wrongful termination, you do not have to remain silent. You will benefit from learning more about the factors that may contribute to wrongful termination and how you can fight back against the responsible party. Any violation of your employment rights could be a valid reason to pursue legal recourse.
The protections available to you
Wrongful termination occurs when an employer violates a law when firing an employee or violates the terms of an employment contract. It is often difficult to prove wrongful termination due to at-will employment laws, but the following are examples of how it can occur:
- If you experienced harassment at work from your employer, manager or a co-worker, then lost your job after filing a report, you could be a victim of wrongful termination.
- Your employer terminated you or put you in a position where you felt the need to resign after reporting discriminatory practices in your workplace.
- Your employer manipulated the environment in an unfair manner that made you feel as if you needed to resign.
- Your employer directly violated the terms of your employment contracts or other agreements when they terminated you.
It may require an in-depth investigation of the circumstances of your firing to determine that you were the victim of wrongful termination. If there is evidence that there was a violation of your employment rights, you may consider moving forward with a civil claim.
Fighting for justice
If you are unsure of your options or what you should do next after unexpectedly losing your job in North Carolina, it will be helpful to seek experienced guidance regarding how you should move forward. An assessment of your situation can provide you with insight on whether the civil justice system is an appropriate course to take in your pursuit of justice and compensation after a wrongful termination.