Being terminated can be a jarring experience. Not only are you likely feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, but you may have serious concerns about your loss of employee benefits and wages. However, you may find some comfort in knowing your employer may be held accountable if you are terminated unlawfully.
If you have reason to believe your employer fired you and violated state and federal employment and labor laws, do not hesitate. Reach out to an experienced Orangeburg wrongful termination lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm and find out how you can make them pay. Contact our personal injury team for a 100% free consultation today and learn more about the value of your claim and what is next in the claims process.
Common Types of Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination can take multiple forms. Although South Carolina is an “at-will” state for employment, this does not give your boss the right to fire you for any reason. If they terminate your employment due to specific protected acts, you may have the right to take legal action against them by filing a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Your wrongful termination attorney in Orangeburg, SC, at Shelly Leeke Law Firm has experience handling a wide array of wrongful termination cases. Some of the most common types of wrongful termination our clients have experienced include the following:
Discrimination
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAS) states that it is unlawful for employers to terminate employees through discrimination. Discrimination can happen to many workers and often includes terminating an employee due to their disability, skin color, religion, gender, age, or other protected characteristic. Thankfully, federal law also protects employees against discrimination and wrongful termination.
Contract Breaches
Breach of contract laws do not conflict with at-will employment. If you have a contract to work for a certain amount of time, unless your employer has just cause for ending your employment, they are legally prohibited from terminating your employment.
If your employer has good cause, such as instances where you may have violated the company’s code of conduct, your wrongful termination claim may not be successful. However, since many companies will attempt to capitalize on these laws by making false claims, it is crucial to have an experienced wrongful termination lawyer on your side who will be able to protect you against these lies.
Taking Military Leave
The company you work for has a legal obligation to allow you to take military leave when you are an active military service member and are called to serve your country. When you finish your tour and come home, you have the right to get your job back. Your employer is prohibited from terminating you while you are on leave.
However, many employers will attempt to get around this by simply refusing to give military service members their positions once their tour has ended. If this happens to you, be sure to contact an Orangeburg wrongful termination attorney at our firm who can help you get your job back and receive the fair compensation you are owed.
Retaliatory Action
When you report unlawful activities in the workplace, it is against the law for your boss to terminate you. You should never be punished for doing the right thing and speaking up when you see illegal or unfair conduct at work. If your employer retaliates against you by demoting you, cutting your pay, or wrongfully terminating you, you may have grounds for an employment law violation complaint.
Reporting Public Policy Violations
All companies are required to adhere to state and federal laws. If you know your coworkers, supervisors, or the company are violating these laws, and you decide to act as a whistleblower, your employer is prohibited from terminating you.
This is one of the first things many companies attempt to do. They may first create a hostile work environment, so you feel forced to quit. Make sure you have an aggressive wrongful termination attorney on your side so you can demand justice.
Suffering a Work Accident
When you are injured in a work-related accident in South Carolina, your employer may be obligated to protect you with workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Employers with four or more employees are legally required to purchase workers comp protection.
If you are injured at work and need to take time off to heal, your employer is required to keep your position. They are also prohibited from retaliating against you if you decide to file a workers’ compensation claim. Employers may do this because insurance companies will increase the employer’s premiums when employees file workers comp claims.
If your company is required to carry workers’ compensation coverage and fails to do so, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer and recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, which will include every single way your life has been affected by the work injuries you sustained.
Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Termination Complaints
When you pursue a wrongful termination lawsuit, it is important to go over every loss you experienced. You have the right to be made whole. This means you should be reimbursed for a combination of economic and non-economic losses.
Although nothing will change the emotional distress and financial losses you went through, by winning your wrongful termination case, you can access the financial support you need when you need it most and start to rebuild your life. Some of the damages that you could recover in your Orangeburg wrongful termination case include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of employee benefits, including health insurance or retirement savings contributions
- The costs of looking for a new job
- Loss of income
- Reputational damages
Meet with a Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Orangeburg, SC, Today
If your employer fired you in retaliation, due to discriminatory reasons, or because you voiced complaints about the safety of your workplace, you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim. With help from a dedicated Orangeburg wrongful termination lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can demand justice.
Hold your employer accountable for their state and federal labor and employment law violations when you contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation. Get started on your wrongful termination case as soon as today when you call our office or complete our confidential and secure contact form.
