“I recently complained to my supervisor that our company was failing to track and pay for overtime. Shortly after this happened, they fired me. What are my rights?”
Wrongful termination refers to any time an employee is terminated for an improper reason. In Massachusetts, there are many improper reasons that can trigger a wrongful termination claim. The most common wrongful termination cases follow from situations where an employer fires an employee in retaliation for being a whistle blower – in other words getting fired for blowing the whistle on an unlawful practice, such as making complaints about discrimination (race, skin color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability, pregnancy or handicap); reporting workplace safety issues; or for joining with other employees to improve wages or working conditions. Employees are also protected against termination by public policy, such as:
• Complaining about or reporting employer’s illegal conduct.
• Refusing to commit an illegal act on behalf of the employer, such as perjury.
• Fulfilling jury service obligations.
• Cooperating with law enforcement.
If you feel you have been wrongfully terminated, contact us today.
This information is not a do-it-yourself guide to resolving employment disputes or handling employment litigation. While some may find this useful for understanding the basic issues and their legal context, it is NOT a substitute for experienced legal counsel and does not provide legal advice. Please contact the team at Gordon Law Group to discuss your specific case.
