Arlington Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Arlington County employees are provided certain protections in their employment through state and federal law. If you have reason to suspect that your employment was terminated for an unlawful reason, you may want to consider working with an Arlington wrongful termination lawyer to bring forth a claim. Whatever your situation may be with your employer, the meticulous employment attorneys at the Spiggle Law Firm could review the facts of your case and advise on your options.

Employment At-Will in Arlington

While Arlington County does follow at-will employment doctrine, at-will employees are still promised certain employment protections.

Employment-at-will gives both employers and employees the right to liberally terminate their working relationship for little or even no cause. However, if an employer’s decision to terminate an employee violates the law or public policy, they may have committed an illegal act. At-will employees who were terminated may wish to have their termination reviewed by an Arlington wrongful termination attorney to confirm it is valid.

It should be noted, though, that while it may not seem just, this form of employment does allow for reasons such as personality differences or isolated poor performance. However, any employee whose legal rights were violated may be able to seek a wrongful termination claim.

Discriminatory Terminations

Unlawful discrimination factors into many Arlington wrongful termination claims. Even for at-will employees, discrimination is not a valid reason for termination. It is prohibited by federal law to terminate on the basis of:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Color
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Sex
  • Pregnancy

Termination based on any of these protected characteristics is illegal and could be grounds for a wrongful termination claim. In these cases, your employer could be held liable and have to pay damages to you as a wrongfully terminated employee. Your employer may also face further consequences for violating federal law.

If discrimination had a role in your termination, a wrongful termination lawyer in Arlington County could help you file a claim with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is responsible for investigating and enforcing discrimination laws at the federal level.

Retaliation Against Arlington Employees

Retaliation is another illegal practice that all employees, including at-will employees, are protected against. In these cases, employees are specifically targeted because of participation in a legally protected conduct. Employers often retaliate against employees for:

  • Reporting sexual misconduct
  • Whistleblowing
  • Legally permissible leave
  • Discriminatory practice opposition
  • Participating in investigations
  • Minimum wage or hour claims

Breach of Employment Contracts

At-will employment rules do not extend to employees who are under contract. Employees with a valid contract may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim if they are terminated prior to their contract running out, even if their employer insists they do not.

Any one of our skilled Arlington County wrongful termination lawyers could review any contracts signed and determine whether they specify enforceable grounds for termination. Like any other contract, any party that acts to breach an employment contract may be liable for damages.

Talk to an Arlington Wrongful Termination Attorney Today

The Spiggle Law Firm legal team has helped many employers recover back wages and damages in wrongful termination cases. To learn more about how our practice could help you, use our Case Assessment Calculator to see how much an Arlington wrongful termination lawyer may be able to get you through a successful case.