If you’ve recently been terminated from a job in Massachusetts and feel it was done unfairly, you may not be able to fight it. It is an employee-at-will state, so employers can dismiss employees for any reason at any time. However, there are some reasons for which an employee may not be terminated and, if they are, the employee may be able to sue the employer for wrongful termination.
Unlawful Termination Reasons
There are three reasons you cannot be fired in an employee-at-will state:
1. If the termination was discriminatory.
2. If the employee was under contract.
3. If the employee was terminated for exercising their rights.
If you have been terminated and you feel it was done for one of these reasons, you need to contact an employee law attorney in Northampton, MA.
Discriminatory Termination
State law protects people from being fired based on:
- race,
- color,
- national origin,
- sex or gender identity,
- religion,
- age,
- mental or physical disability,
- sexual orientation, and
- military status.
However, the law only applies to businesses employing six or more people. Federal law also protects people from being terminated for many of the same reasons, in addition to pregnancy and genetic information. If you feel you were fired for one of these reasons, an employee law attorney from a firm such as Connor Morneau & Olin LLP will investigate the circumstances of your termination to see if you have a case.
Reporting Discrimination
Sometimes employees are hesitant about reporting problems at work, such as sex or age discrimination, for fear they will lose their jobs. However, employers cannot legally fire someone for making a claim to HR about discriminatory practices. If they do, you should seek an employee law attorney to file a wrongful termination lawsuit to be compensated for the wages you lost due to being terminated.
