Picture this scenario for a moment: you are a valued employee who has put years, maybe even decades into a company. You have avoided any workplace incidents or injuries that might have gotten you into trouble. Your coworkers have nothing but good things to say about your character and work ethic. Then, one day you show up for a shift and are told not to return to work.
Wrongful termination is a legitimate concern in the United States. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handles nearly three-quarters of a million employment discrimination cases each year. Almost half of those cases involve some form of retaliation or an employer firing an employee because a complaint was filed against a supervisor or the company in general.
Employer retaliation is one of the most common reasons for wrongful termination in the country. It leads to hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs and their livelihoods. Those that lose a job unexpectedly face additional stress and pressure to find work to cover a mortgage and utilities, and put food on the table for themselves and family.
If you filed a complaint against a boss and got fired for that reason, you likely have a legitimate wrongful termination lawsuit. Speaking with a knowledgeable wrongful termination lawyer in Indiana can get you started on the right path toward justice.
Understanding Wrongful Termination
Losing a job is traumatic for anyone. It’s often a significant, life-altering event, as you depend on a job for money to pay your bills and provide for a family. The sudden loss of a job, especially when it was not planned, is even more heartbreaking.
Fired employees understandably feel shocked, embarrassed, and frustrated over the loss of their job. Often, they point the blame at themselves when there is more to the situation. Supervisors or employers that act unfairly need to be held accountable for their actions.
Wrongful termination laws are included at the federal and state level to protect employees from unfair and unsafe work conditions. While most states (including Indiana) are “at-will” employment states, you may still be able to take legal action if you believe you were fired unfairly.
Indiana “At-Will” Employment State Laws
Indiana is one of many states that observe “at-will” employment. The legal term means that an employer may hire and fire an employee at any time and for any reason. However, there are many exceptions to the rule.
For example, an employer cannot discriminate against an employee or fire an individual out of retaliation. Indiana also protects contracted workers from breach of contract and violation of public policy.
Since employment laws do get complicated in the state of Indiana, it is best to reach out to an experienced lawyer. A wrongful termination attorney in Indiana can help examine the details of your case and advise you on the best course of legal action.
Contact Stewart & Stewart today to speak to a wrongful termination lawyer and get more information on pursuing justice through a court of law.
Types of Wrongful Termination
There are four primary types of wrongful termination in Indiana that are exceptions to “at-will” employment. What this means is that you can likely still pursue a wrongful termination claim even if the employment agreement was “at-will” if the circumstances involve:
- Breach of Contract
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Violation of Public Policy
A wrongful termination attorney in Indiana can describe each exception in more detail. However, most circumstances that involve a supervisor firing an employee because the worker had something negative to report about the supervisor is considered an act of retaliation.
By law, an employer may not fire you because you have something negative to say about your boss. Furthermore, state law protects workers from being fired for serving as a whistleblower.
Whistleblowers are individuals who have insider knowledge about unsafe or unfair workplace practices. Once they bring the information to light by telling a superior or the public, they expose the wrongdoing to others. Supervisors cannot legally fire you because you act as a whistleblower.
Furthermore, they may not fire you if the supervisor asks you to do something that would violate public policy. They also cannot unfairly discriminate because of your race, color, sex, religious affiliation, disability, ancestry, or country of origin.
Finding a Wrongful Termination Lawyer
If you suspect that you were fired because of retaliation, you need to reach out to a wrongful termination attorney in Indiana immediately. Employers are not legally allowed to fire you because you had something negative to say about the organization or a supervisor.
You are entitled to report on unfair or unsafe practices at work, even if the employer threatens your job. If you are wrongfully terminated, speak with the wrongful termination lawyers at Stewart & Stewart immediately—we’ll help you gather the necessary documentation and evidence to prove your case in a court of law.
Speak to a Wrongful Termination Attorney in Indiana
Stewart & Stewart is passionate about protecting and advocating for workers who were let go from a company for unlawful reasons. Remember that an employer is not allowed to fire you because of retaliation. If you lost your job because you had something negative to say about a superior, contact us immediately at 1 (800) 33-33-LAW or reach out online.