Although Florida is an “at-will” employment state, there are some situations in which your employer’s termination of your employment violates state or federal laws. “At will” means your boss does not have to tell you why you got fired, and you do not have to have done anything wrong. You could be a model employee and still lose your job. Florida law does not guarantee that a job will last indefinitely.
Still, sometimes it is against the law for your employer to fire you for the wrong reason, like workplace discrimination, or in some circumstances, like when terminating your position would breach your employment contract or a collective bargaining agreement. If you have questions about whether your rights were violated, you might want to talk to The Villages wrongful termination lawyer at Bogin, Munns & Munns.
Examples of Wrongful Termination in The Villages, FL
It can be unlawful for your employer to fire you or let you off for any of these reasons:
- Family leave. If you take the appropriate amount of time off to care for your family, as allowed by statute, it can be against the law for your boss to fire you or lay you off.
- Retaliation. Sometimes, employers lash out at a worker who blows the whistle on violations of the law or unfair treatment. If you got laid off or fired because you complained about this type of conduct by your boss, you might have a wrongful termination case.
- Breach of contract. If you have an employment agreement or a collective bargaining agreement, your employer will be bound by the terms of that agreement. If the agreement limits the conditions under which you can get laid off or fired, and your boss terminates your employment for some other reason, they might have breached the contract.
- Discrimination. State and federal laws protect workers from adverse hiring decisions, including layoffs and termination of employment, for discriminatory reasons. A few examples of unlawful discrimination in Florida include religion, age, disability, gender, race, and ethnicity.
- Workers’ compensation. If your employer fired you after you filed a claim for a work-related illness or injury, you could have a wrongful termination case. Florida Statutes § 440.205 forbids employers from firing, threatening to fire, coercing, or intimidating an employee because of their valid claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
These categories are but a few examples of situations that could qualify for legal action based on wrongful termination. Please do not worry if you do not see your scenario on this list. We will be happy to talk to you to see if you might have a wrongful termination case in The Villages or its surrounding areas.
To consult with an experienced wrongful termination lawyer serving The Villages, call 855-780-9986
Recoverable Compensation in a Wrongful Termination Case in The Villages
The damages you could pursue for a wrongful layoff or firing will depend on your situation. Here are some of the categories of compensation that people often seek to recover in these cases:
- Lost income. If you get wrongfully terminated, you will lose more than simply the paycheck you should have received, although that paycheck is how you cover your living expenses. You might also have received salary raises, bonuses, promotions, or other compensation if you had stayed in your position.
- Health insurance and other employer benefits. Your job might provide health insurance for you and your family. If you lose your health insurance, you might have to pay medical expenses out of pocket. If your boss contributes to your 401(k) account, losing your job takes those benefits away.
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses. You might be able to add various costs or fees to your wrongful termination case.
The monetary damages you can pursue will depend on the unique facts of your situation.
The Villages Wrongful Termination Lawyer Near Me 855-780-9986
How a Wrongful Termination Lawyer Can Help with Your Case in The Villages, FL
You do not have to take on your employer by yourself. After our employment lawyer talks to you, if you become a client, we will:
- Investigate your case to learn as much as possible that might help your claim.
- Collect evidence to build your case.
- Talk to people who might have valuable testimony about your allegations. These people could include your co-workers, employer, and others.
- Evaluate which laws apply and what course of action would be appropriate.
- File your claim with the proper authorities.
- Negotiate your claim while still pursuing your legal remedies.
- If necessary, we could file a lawsuit to seek justice on your behalf.
Every wrongful termination case follows a slightly different path, but these are some of the many services we provide for our clients dealing with these cases. Administrative agency complaints and litigation are unpredictable, but we guarantee that we work relentlessly for our clients.
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Filing Deadlines for a Florida Wrongful Termination Case
Some claims require you to exhaust your administrative remedies before you can file a civil lawsuit. Administrative remedies, like a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), have shorter filing deadlines than most civil lawsuits. With some types of discrimination cases, you might have only about six months to act.
Filing deadlines can be confusing, so do not lose heart if you think the time for taking legal action might already have passed. You will want to talk to a wrongful termination attorney in The Villages, Florida, to see if you still have a case.
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How We Can Prove Wrongful Termination in an Employment Case in The Villages
Depending on your circumstances, our The Villages wrongful termination lawyer might use some of these items as evidence in your wrongful termination complaint or lawsuit:
- Written documents, such as letters, memos, emails, text messages, or handwritten notes
- Testimony of former workers and people with whom you worked
- The form your employer gave you when they laid off or terminated you
- Your employment contract or collective bargaining agreement
- Performance reviews
- Work schedules
- Employee handbook
There might be additional evidence that could be useful to prove your case.
Call Us Today for Help From a Wrongful Termination Lawyer in The Villages
Here at Bogin, Munns & Munns, we help workers who have wrongfully been let go from their jobs. We also help employers who face accusations despite operating within the law. We can represent workers or employers in arbitrations, mediations, administrative agency claims, or lawsuits in state or federal court.
Give us a call today to speak with our team about your matter and learn how The Villages wrongful termination lawyer can guide you through the legal process.
Call or text 855-780-9986 or submit our Consultation Request form today
