What Damages Can I Recover If I Prevail in a Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit?
While you certainly may want justice and personal empowerment after experiencing discrimination at work, you also may be wondering what damages can I...
2 min read
Whitcomb, Selinsky, PC Staff
:
September 12, 2023
There are exceptions to almost everything, and the answer to “Can I be terminated for any reason or without cause in an at-will employment state?” can get complicated in certain situations.
While the principle of "at-will" employment is that either the employer or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and without prior notice, it’s not always so cut and dried.
As an employee, you still are protected from unfair and discriminatory actions, up to and including being fired in a wrongful manner.
At-Will EmploymentAt-will employment is a legal doctrine that exists in all U.S. states except Montana, which has additional protections for employees.
In at-will employment states, an employer can terminate an employee's job for any reason that is not illegal, or even for no reason at all. Similarly, employees are generally free to leave their job without providing a specific reason or notice.
Even in at-will employment states, if you are fired for an illegal reason, it may be considered a wrongful termination.
The Default RuleAt-will employment is considered the default rule for employment relationships. This means that unless a specific employment contract or collective bargaining agreement says otherwise, the at-will doctrine applies.
However, there are certain legal exceptions and protections that exist even in at-will states.
Legal Exceptions and ProtectionsWhile employers have broad discretion to terminate employees in at-will employment states, there are some legal exceptions and workers are still legally protected from unfair or discriminatory practices.
Some of these legal exceptions and protections include:
While at-will employment doctrine gives both employers and employees the freedom to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, it doesn’t take away your rights under labor and employment law.
Employers do not have unlimited power to simply fire employees without consequences. Laws exist to prevent discriminatory, arbitrary, or wrongful terminations.
If you have concerns about your employment rights, it's crucial to consult with a Labor and Employment Law Attorney who can evaluate your specific situation and guide you through the relevant laws and regulations applicable to your situation.
We invite you to get a free consultation with the Labor and Employment Law Legal Team here at Whitcomb Selinsky, PC by calling (866) 433-4116 or simply click here to use our convenient online form to tell us how we can help.
While you certainly may want justice and personal empowerment after experiencing discrimination at work, you also may be wondering what damages can I...
If you believe you were unfairly or unlawfully fired from your job, you may have a wrongful termination case, but are you wondering, “How do I prove...
There are exceptions to almost everything, and the answer to “Can I be terminated for any reason or without cause in an at-will employment state?”...