Did your employer fire you for illegal reasons such as discrimination or retaliation? If so, you should know that you have legal rights. With the assistance of a great Wrongful Termination attorney virginia, you may be able to receive back pay, front pay, and other damages by filing a wrongful termination case.
In Virginia, employers can fire their workers even without a reason. But, they cannot do so for an illegal reason. Thus, employers are expected to honor the terms of employment contracts including provisions specifying the employment duration and the severance pay amount. A lot of state and federal laws that prohibit certain workplace practices can support a wrongful termination claim.
In addition, employment termination should comply with applicable laws. Otherwise, it could lead to wrongful termination. Often this termination deals with illegal discrimination or harassment against workers who belong to a protected class. Under Virginia law, protected classes include color, race, sex, religion, national origin, pregnancy, disability, age, and others.
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Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
Adverse employment actions like demotion or termination are illegal under the law when taken because an employee in question belongs to a protected class. Thus, workers who lost their job due to this reason may have a wrongful termination case. The law protects employees against unfair treatment at work for being a part of a protected class, workplace harassment, and retaliation. Also, it is unlawful for employees to deny an employee of reasonable accommodation because of their membership in such a group.
Remedies for Wrongful Termination
Workers who have been wrongfully discharged from work can seek legal remedies. They need the help of an experienced employment lawyer to maximize their damages. Some of the remedies they may get include lost wages, damages for the benefits they lost, injunctive relief, punitive damages, and attorney fees.
Before trial, an employee may negotiate a settlement with the worker who filed a claim. Sometimes, they may offer a severance package in exchange for withdrawing from the case. A wrongful termination victim must speak with a lawyer before they accept such offers.
In general, wrongful termination claims different legal issues with one case. Thus, such lawsuits will usually require extensive knowledge of labor laws. Also, they may involve complicated legal procedures that an employee may not be able to understand without a lawyer’s guidance. Therefore, those who want to file a wrongful termination claim against their boss must hire a competent attorney for further assistance.