Losing a job is a stressful event, especially when you suspect that you were wrongfully terminated. Wrongful termination occurs when an employer unlawfully fires an employee, violating a law, contract, or public policy.
Our team of experienced lawyers at S.T. Legal Group understands what constitutes grounds for a Deerfield wrongful termination case, and can discuss your situation during a free 30-minute case evaluation. Meet with a wrongful termination attorney to learn more about your rights and options.
Illinois is an at-will employment state, meaning that an employer can fire an employee for any reason and at any time, as long as no laws or policies are violated. However, there are laws in place to protect employees from being fired illegally.
Various federal and state laws protect employees from unlawful treatment. Laws like the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, include lists of protected characteristics on which an employer may not discriminate, retaliate, or make other illegal employment decisions. Additionally, the Illinois Human Rights Act expands upon federal laws and includes additional protected characteristics like marital status and gender identity.
During a case evaluation with a Deerfield lawyer, you could learn about common grounds for a wrongful termination case and explore various legal options.
A termination is unlawful if an employer fires an employee due to discrimination, retaliation, violation of employment contracts, or breach of public policy.
Employers may not fire an employee because of protected characteristics, such as race, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. An example of a wrongful termination claim based on discrimination is if an employer fires an employee due to their pregnancy.
An employer is prohibited from firing an employee for engaging in protected activities, such as whistleblowing about illegal conduct in the workplace, filing a discrimination complaint, filing a worker’s compensation claim, participating in workplace investigations, or reporting harassment.
You may have grounds for a wrongful termination case if your employer in Deerfield fired you in violation of the terms of your contract, whether written, oral, or implied. For example, if your employment contract specified that your term of employment would last two years, but they fired you after four months, you could have grounds for a wrongful termination claim.
An employer must also comply with a labor union’s collective bargaining agreement when terminating a unionized employee.
An employer may not fire someone for reasons that breach public policy. An example of this would be an employer firing someone for refusing to falsify documents or for reporting other illegal workplace conduct.
If you believe that you have grounds for a wrongful termination claim, it is essential to consult an attorney to initiate legal action.
Employers have discretion to terminate employment due to the state’s at-will employment doctrine. However, they must still abide by laws and policies in place to protect employees from unlawful termination.
If you have been terminated from your job and are uncertain whether it was illegal, reach out to our team at S.T. Legal Group to discuss common grounds for a Deerfield wrongful termination case. We offer free 30-minute case evaluations to go over the specifics of your case and discuss the best path forward. Wrongful termination can be difficult to prove, so having a team of dedicated lawyers can increase your chances of a successful outcome.
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