- New Jersey Sexual Harassment Lawyer
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- New Jersey Equal Pay Lawyer
- New Jersey Employment Discrimination Lawyer
- New Jersey Unpaid Overtime or Wages Lawyer
- New Jersey Severance and Separation Lawyer
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- New Jersey Wrongful Termination Lawyer
- New Jersey Contract Review and Negotiation Attorney
TERMINATION
NEW JERSEY IS AN “EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL” STATE.
However, this does not give an employer the absolute discretion to terminate an employee for any reason they can conjure up. There are protected classes of employees that cannot be fired simply because they are part of a protected class. For example, an employer cannot fire an individual because they belong to a particular race. If an employer engaged in the wrongful termination of you or a family member, you should contact an experienced Glen Rock Borough wrongful termination attorney.
The Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi can help you discover whether your employer violated state or federal employment laws when they terminated you. Wrongful termination attorney Usmaan Sleemi has extensive experience dealing with various types of employment discrimination issues in New Jersey, and is ready to use that experience to fight on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation, contact the Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi online, or by calling (973) 453-4060 today.
WHAT IS WRONGFUL TERMINATION?
New Jersey’s status as an at-will employment state can make it difficult to determine whether an employee was wrongfully terminated. Being employed on an at-will basis means an employer can fire you at any time and for any reason. However, there are certain guidelines that an employer must adhere to when deciding to fire an employee.
New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits an employer from firing a worker on the basis of age, race, gender, disability, religion, and many other factors. The LAD sets out your legal rights depending on what type of employment discrimination was used to terminate you from a position. For example, if an employer considered your race when deciding to lay off employees, this is a violation of New Jersey’s employment laws.
New Jersey has also adopted a version of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Family Leave Act utilized by New Jersey states that employees are entitled to take leave without being fired under the following circumstances:
- Your employer has 50 or more employees who have worked at least 20 weeks during this year or an earlier year (including employees located outside of New Jersey)
- The employee who needs family leave must have worked for the employer for one year and at least 1,000 hours
There is an exception to this law. If your salary is higher than 95% of the other employees, your employer may deny you medical leave. This is because the business might suffer if a high-ranking official takes an extended hiatus.
The violation of the following laws can also constitute wrongful termination in New Jersey:
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act
LEGAL REMEDIES FOR WRONGFUL DISCHARGE
If your employer wrongfully discharged you, there may be legal remedies that are available to you. One remedy that you can receive if you are successful in your wrongful discharge claim is to be returned to your old position. The employer will also be liable for back pay, interest, and the reinstatement of an employee’s benefits that were cut off after being discharged.
A wrongfully dismissed employee can also receive damages for pain, humiliation, and emotional distress that was triggered when they were fired. If you choose to retain a lawyer to represent you in your claim, you can also receive reasonable lawyer’s fees and other expenses that were accumulated while pursuing your case.
An employer is also subject to fines for violating the LAD. For example, there is $10,000 fine for a first-time violation of the LAD. This punishment will increase depending on how many times the employer violates certain employment laws.
It is important to note that the LAD protects employees from reprisal or retaliation from an employer after filing a valid complaint concerning a wrongful discharge. This means that your employer cannot fire you because you notified them of a discriminatory problem or another type of issue with their company. You also cannot be terminated for assisting someone in filing a complaint against an employer. There are also laws that protect you from termination if you notify a law enforcement agency of your employer’s illegal activity. These laws are also known as “whistleblower laws” or “whistleblower protection laws.”
GLEN ROCK BOROUGH WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWYER REPRESENTING FIRED WORKERS
If an employer wrongfully dismissed you from your position, you should contact an experienced wrongful dismissal lawyer in Glen Rock Borough for guidance. Wrongful discharge attorney Usmaan Sleemi can help you fight against large businesses and corporations that believe they are free to illegally terminate employees without any consequences. The Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi will provide you with unique and aggressive legal representation to help you pursue the justice and financial compensation that you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation, call (973) 453-4060, or contact us online.