Wrongful Termination Lawyers in New Jersey
Fired Illegally in Marlton or Northfield?
Losing a job is a stressful and emotionally complicated matter under legitimate circumstances. When you suspect you were fired for an unlawful reason, however, matters can become even more complex and require legal support to assert your rights.
Burnham Douglass Attorneys At Law is prepared to represent clients in wrongful termination cases and other employment law matters. With our help, you can seek fair and just compensation from your employer and other responsible parties when illegal motivations caused your termination.
What Does Wrongful Termination Look Like?
Generally speaking, a wrongful termination involves an employer severing the employment relationship with a worker for an unlawful reason. Employment laws at the state and federal levels provide numerous protections for employees, but a consolidated rule of thumb is that employees cannot be fired for their real or perceived association with an age group, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, skin color, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, and other protected characteristics.
Additionally, employees cannot be terminated as an act of retaliation against them when they report or witness unlawful behavior at work.
Examples of wrongful termination can include:
- Firing an employee for reporting sexual harassment
- Laying off a worker 40 years old or older in favor of a younger hire
- Selecting workers of a certain religion for a round of layoffs
- Firing an employee who threatens to report an employer for overtime nonpayment
- Terminating employees who discussed union formation
- Firing an employee who requested reasonable accommodation for a disability
- Terminating an employee who is on FMLA leave
There are numerous circumstances under which you may be able to successfully claim wrongful termination. Consulting with a wrongful termination attorney in Marlton or Northfield from our firm can help you assess the validity of your employment claim and legal options for moving forward.
Limitations to At-Will Employment
At-will employment is a doctrine acknowledged by 49 states, including New Jersey. What it means, in effect, is that your employer may terminate your working relationship for any reason or no reason at all. No explanation or proof is required to substantiate a claim that you weren’t performing as desired, and employers may be within their rights under at-will employment for firing employees for trivial reasons.
Despite the considerable power and impact of at-will employment, it is not above the law. Your employer may not fire you “for any reason” if that reason is based on retaliation, discrimination, or another unlawful motivation. You are also protected against retaliation in spite of at-will employment, and employees should consult with a wrongful termination lawyer in New Jersey.
Wrongful Termination Claim for Executives & Professionals
We have experience representing professionals and high-level executives in wrongful termination lawsuits. Such cases can have a serious impact on your reputation and career in the long-term, so it is important that you have an attorney who can handle the case with care and skill.
Some damages that we may be able to recover for executives include:
- Lost salary and benefits
- Reimbursement of key expenses related to the job (such as a loss on the sale of a home when you relocated for the job)
- Pain and suffering
- Lost equity on stocks
- Earned but unpaid bonuses
Since wrongful termination suits are complex due to the high financial stakes, take action with our team of seasoned attorneys at Burnham Douglass Attorneys at Law.
FAQs About Wrongful Termination
How soon after I’m fired should I hire an attorney?
If you believe that your termination was illegal, you should hire an attorney as quickly as possible. There are statute of limitations for wrongful termination cases that can prevent you from filing a claim once too much time has passed.
What is constructive discharge?
Constructive discharge occurs when an employer creates a working environment that is so intolerable, the employee is forced to quit. This type of case can be treated similar to a wrongful termination claim, and can expose the employer to such claims.
If I was fired without warning about my performance, was I wrongfully terminated?
Being fired even after you received positive performance reviews does not necessarily constitute wrongful termination. You must have evidence that your employer fired you based on your race, age, gender, or another protected class.
Arrange a Free Screening Today!
At Burnham Douglass Attorneys At Law, all of our prospective clients enjoy the opportunity to take advantage of a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers. We understand the value in a risk-free conversation with an attorney who can help you understand your legal options for moving forward with a wrongful termination claim.
Contact us online or call 856-751-5505 to schedule a free consultation. During this meeting, we can discuss your situation and how our legal services may be able to help you recover fair and just compensation for your losses.
