| Getting the Axe | | | | termination. Employees are protected from this |
| Donald Trump may think that he coined the | | | | kind of wrongful termination under the federal |
| dreaded phrase, but the words "You are fired," | | | | Immigration Reform and Control Act. |
| have been used to terminate employees for | | | | OSHA Violations |
| years. No matter how an employer puts it or | | | | Employees may not be fired to filing complaints |
| says, being let go is never a good feeling. What is | | | | about a work environment that does not meet |
| worse than being out of a job, is being terminated | | | | state or federal health and safety rules. This is |
| on unfair or illegal grounds. There are several | | | | governed under the federal Occupation Safety |
| reasons that an employer is prohibited from firing | | | | and Health Act. |
| an employee for. | | | | Employees' rights |
| The problem | | | | When an employer violates any of the above |
| Things like unaccountability, lack or productivity, | | | | mentioned prohibitions, their violated employees |
| and dangerous conduct are all legitimate reasons | | | | have the right to take action. Not only can |
| an employer may have for terminating a worker. | | | | workers file a complaint with the Department of |
| Sometime however, employers will create "good | | | | Labor or OSHA, they may also file a lawsuit. |
| reasons" to fire a worker to cover up their real | | | | When considering taking on an employer or |
| unfair and illegal one. Such firing practices are | | | | former employer, it is crucial to consult the advice |
| violation of federal employment laws. | | | | of a legal professional. Employment lawyers have |
| Discrimination | | | | extensive knowledge in employee rights and the |
| According to federal law it is illegal for an | | | | restrictions that govern employers. |
| employer to fire an employee because of the | | | | Consequences for employers |
| employee's race, gender, national origin, disability, | | | | Employers who use things like race or age as |
| religion, or age. Pregnancy is another unlawful | | | | reasons to fire an employee can be fined heavily |
| reason for terminating employment. | | | | by the Equal Employment Opportunities |
| Alien Status | | | | Commission. They could also have to pay |
| So long as an employee is legally eligible for | | | | thousands of dollars in back pay, damages, and |
| employment in the United States, their status as | | | | attorney's fees should their former employee file |
| an alien cannot be used as a criterion for | | | | a wrongful termination suit against them. |