Talk to a Lawyer About Your Wrongful Termination Claims
If you have lately lost your job due to layoff, outsourcing, downsizing, or even for performance-related reasons, don't be too quick to conclude that your status as an employee at will means that you have no legal rights. At Schaefer Law Firm, you can benefit from our experience with complex employee rights' claims on issues ranging from sexual harassment to unpaid overtime. To learn about your rights in potential cases of wrongful termination, contact one of our employment law attorneys in Minneapolis.
Just what does "employment at will" mean, anyway?
Savvy human resources officers make sure that all employees understand that they work as employees at will — in other words, either party to the contract is free to terminate it for any reason or no reason. Bear in mind, however, that both Minnesota and federal law provide important exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine.
While you can apparently be fired for no particular reason, just as you can quit any time you want, you can't be fired for an unlawful reason. You just might have a claim for wrongful termination, despite any "official" reasons for your departure, if investigation of the facts reveals that any of the following circumstances played a role in the decision to let you go:
- Discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin or any other protected classification
- Retaliation for invoking protected employee rights, such as the right to take medical leave or file a sexual harassment complaint
- Problems with supervisors or managers related to whistleblower activity or supporting the legitimate complaint of a co-worker through cooperation with internal or government investigations
Circumstances suggesting wrongful termination can even exist in cases that appear to be budget- or market-motivated downsizing or layoff situations. Just as employers have become more sophisticated in disguising unlawful treatment of their employees, our lawyers take a highly sophisticated approach to the investigation, presentation, negotiation and proof of wrongful termination claims.
We also advise and represent employees whose termination might involve breach of a contract of employment, severance issues, or partnership dissolution problems, as when an ousted professional or manager also owns an equity stake in the enterprise.
Schaefer Law Firm has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation as employees' advocates in class action litigation, sex or race discrimination claims, and employer misconduct such as the sexual harassment case that provided the story for the Hollywood film "North Country."
To discuss the circumstances of your termination with an experienced employment attorney, contact Schaefer Law Firm in Minneapolis.
