People can be fired for a large number of lawful reasons, such as insubordination or theft. However, there are some cases where employees have been unreasonably discharged for an illegitimate reason or maybe even seemingly no reason at all. While Georgia is an “employment at will” state which means that technically you can be fired at any time for almost any reason, there are certain exceptions that are considered wrongful terminations. If you’ve been fired unlawfully, you may have a valid wrongful termination claim. To learn more, continue reading or contact an Atlanta Wrongful Termination Attorney today!

WHAT IS WRONGFUL TERMINATION?

Wrongful termination is when an employer lays off an employee for an illegal reason. There are certain federal and state laws in place that establish what could be an illegal reason to fire someone. Any of the following scenarios could be considered wrongful termination:

• Firing an employee on the basis of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or age, as this is considered discrimination
• Firing an employee out of retaliation, like if the employee reports an employer violation and the employer fires them out of vengeance
• Committing statutory violations in the process of firing an employee
• Breaking an employment contract by firing an employee
• Firing an employee with a disability for needing accommodations

It’s important to note that employees can be lawfully fired for many different reasons. Georgia’s employment laws allow employers to fire people at any time for a legal reason. The most common causes of lawful termination are reduction in workforce, insubordination, attendance issues, theft, going out of business, or an action that is the employee’s fault. To file a claim, you must prove that your termination was in fact unlawful.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I EXPERIENCED WRONGFUL TERMINATION?

If you believe you were a victim of wrongful termination, you should immediately contact a trusted employment law attorney to evaluate your case to determine if you have a valid claim. There are a few steps in proving your claim. If you’re unsure why you were fired, you should ask your employer for a written note explaining the reasons for your termination. If the reason isn’t valid, then your attorney can help you investigate and gather evidence proving your termination was unlawful. Evidence could be correspondence with the employer, HR reports, or legally obtained recordings.

If you’re looking for a qualified employment law attorney, Ben Barrett Law is here to fight for you! Contact us today for quality legal counseling.