ESSEX COUNTY WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWYER
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TERMINATION
BEING FIRED IS NEVER A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
Losing your job can create stress and financial hardship in your life. Even if you can find another job or seek unemployment benefits while you are out of work, you may feel embarrassed or disgusted if your firing was inappropriate, unlawful, or discriminatory. You may be entitled to file a wrongful termination case against your employer.
A wrongful termination lawsuit can have you reinstated to your job, reimburse you for lost wages and other benefits, and punish your employer for their violations. If you or a loved one was fired from your job for an illegal or discriminatory reason, talk to an employment lawyer about your case today. Essex County wrongful termination lawyer Usmaan Sleemi represents victims of discrimination and wrongful termination and helps them seek compensation and other remedies for the wrongs they suffered. For a free consultation on your case, contact The Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi today at 973-866-9415.
New Jersey workers who have been wrongfully terminated deserve real answers and strong representation. Our law firm serves clients throughout Essex County, Bergen County, West Orange, and Northern New Jersey. Our legal team understands employment law matters inside and out and will fight to protect workers who have been treated unfairly. If you believe your employee rights were violated, contact our office today to speak with a New Jersey employment law attorney.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN “AT-WILL EMPLOYEE” IN NEW JERSEY?
Employees are usually hired based on an employment contract or hired on an “at-will” basis. If you have an employment contract, it will describe the terms of your employment, including how long your employer is required to keep you on staff, when your contract renews, what obligations each party has, what pay and benefits you receive, and – most importantly – the reasons your employer can fire you and the reasons you can quit. Contract employees have a bit more job security because their employers must usually need to have a good reason to fire them.
At-will employees have no agreements in place as to when they can be fired or when their contract renews. This means they can walk away from their job at any point, but it also means their employer can fire them at any time. An employer does not need good cause to fire an at-will employee, and they can fire them for any reason they want or no reason at all.
This does not mean at-will employees are left unprotected. Some businesses may have employee handbooks and other company policies which dictate how they will treat their workers. These may help protect workers from random or petty firings. There are also dozens of state and federal laws that make it illegal to fire an employee because of discriminatory reasons, injury or disability, refusing sexual advances, or whistleblowing.
WRONGFUL TERMINATION FOR DISCRIMINATION IN ESSEX COUNTY
If you lost your job because your employer or supervisor discriminated against you, you may be able to claim wrongful termination and file a lawsuit against your former employer. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), as well as other state and federal laws, make it illegal to discriminate against an employee based on personal characteristics. This means that it is not only illegal to fire an employee because of these characteristics but also to use these traits as a factor in any other negative employment decisions, such as a pay cut, transfer, or demotion.
New Jersey’s LAD has some of the broadest protections for antidiscrimination laws in NJ and protects from discrimination based on any of these traits:
- Age
- Ancestry
- Blood or Cellular Traits
- Color
- Disability
- Gender Identity or Expression
- Genetic Information
- Marital Status
- Military Service
- Nation of Origin
- Nationality
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
If these traits are used as a factor in dismissing you from your job, you could be entitled to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Employment discrimination can take many forms. Some employees are fired outright, while others are pushed out through demotion, reduced hours, or hostile work environment conditions. Pregnancy discrimination, national origin bias, and firing someone for taking medical leave are all examples of unlawful termination under New Jersey law. Both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the LAD offer anti-discrimination laws that protect employees from these kinds of actions.
WRONGFUL TERMINATION FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment has no place in the workplace. If you are approached by a supervisor, employer, or coworker who demands sexual favors or repeatedly makes the workplace an uncomfortable and unsafe place, you should never lose your job because of it. People with power may go so far as to threaten to fire you for refusing sexual favors. This is a completely illegal basis for firing an employee, and the law protects victims of sexual harassment from having to give in to outrageous demands to keep their jobs. These rules also work to protect from harassment other than sexual harassment.
Federal laws protect employees from this type of misconduct under Title VII and other labor laws. Employees who are fired or pushed out after reporting sexual misconduct may have a strong wrongful discharge claim. This is a form of retaliation, and it is taken seriously by Essex County superior court and federal courts alike. Our Essex County employment lawyers have experience handling these sensitive cases and are ready to stand up for you.
RETALIATION AND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION
Dozens of proverbs and sayings praise those who stand up for what is right and report problems. In the workplace, this is rarely rewarded as it should be, and you may fear that your employer will punish you for reporting illegal acts, discrimination, sexual harassment, or other problems in the workplace. Multiple rules act to protect whistleblowers and other conscientious employees who report problems at work.
If you complain to a supervisor or report illegal acts to the proper authorities, multiple laws step in to protect your job. This means that your employer cannot try to get revenge against you for uncovering violations, reporting sexual harassment, or complaining about discrimination. If you work for the government, you may also be protected from retaliation for speech you made or viewpoints you hold as a private citizen.
The Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) is one of the strongest whistleblower protections in the country. It covers New Jersey employees who report illegal activity or refuse to participate in actions that violate state law or state and federal law. Taking protected activity like reporting illegal acts should never cost you your job. Our New Jersey wrongful termination lawyers can help you determine if CEPA or other federal laws apply to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Termination in New Jersey
What is the difference between wrongful termination and at-will employment?
At-will employment means your employer can fire you at any time without a specific reason. But it does not give them the right to fire you for an illegal reason. Wrongful termination happens when a firing breaks state and federal law. For example, firing someone because of their race, sexual orientation, or for reporting illegal acts is still unlawful termination even in an at-will state. If you think you were wrongfully terminated, an employment law attorney can review the facts of your case.
What compensation can I recover if I was wrongfully fired?
If you win a wrongful termination case, you may be able to recover damages, including lost wages, reinstated benefits, and emotional distress damages. In some cases, you can also be reinstated to your old position. Minimum wage and overtime violations tied to your firing may also be recoverable. Courts can also require employees to be made whole for any losses caused by the employer’s actions. Our New Jersey employment lawyers can help you understand what your case may be worth.
How do I know if my firing was discriminatory?
Discrimination based on a protected trait is often the core of a wrongful termination claim. If your employer treated you differently from other employees, made comments about your background, or fired you shortly after you filed a complaint, those can all be warning signs. Employment discrimination does not always come with a clear explanation. Sometimes the real reason is hidden behind a made-up excuse. A New Jersey employment law attorney can help you look at the details and decide if legal action makes sense.
Do I need a lawyer to file a wrongful termination claim?
You are not required to have one, but having an experienced Essex County employment attorney makes a significant difference. Court proceedings can be complicated, and employment contracts, deadlines, and filing rules all affect your case. Employment law attorneys who represent employees in these matters know how to build strong cases and handle negotiations. Fair treatment is your right, and our Essex County employment lawyers are here to fight for it.
Call Our Essex County Wrongful Termination Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one faced discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other problems that led to losing your job, talk to an attorney about filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against your employer. These lawsuits can help to reclaim any lost wages and benefits, punish your employer, and reinstate you to your position, where appropriate. For a free consultation on your case, contact the Essex County wrongful termination lawyers at The Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi today at 973-866-9415.
New Jersey wrongful termination lawyers at our firm handle employment lawsuits across Essex County, Bergen County, and beyond. We are wrongful termination lawyers who take employment law matters seriously. Near Seton Hall University or anywhere in Northern New Jersey, our Essex County employment team is ready to help New Jersey employees get the fair treatment they deserve.
Do not wait to take action. Employment law deadlines can affect your ability to file. Contact our office today to speak with an employment lawyer about your situation. Whether you were fired for discriminatory reasons, pushed out due to a hostile work environment, or let go after reporting illegal acts, our legal team is prepared to fight for your right or his right to workplace discrimination protections under New Jersey law. Call now for a free consultation.