Palm Beach Gardens Wrongful Termination Attorney
Losing a job is always difficult, especially if it was not your decision to leave. In general, Florida employers are free to dismiss an employee for any reason–or even without even giving a reason. This is known as “at-will” employment. But federal and state laws do create a number of exceptions to this rule.
In short, if you are fired for an illegal reason, you have the right to take legal action. You may be able to recover monetary damages or even reinstatement to your former job. A qualified Palm Beach Gardens wrongful termination attorney can review your case and offer you legal advice based on your specific circumstances. At the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., we have helped many clients in obtaining justice against employers who thought they were above the law.
When Is It Illegal for an Employer to Fire You?
There are more reasons than you might realize why an employer cannot legally fire you. Most of these reasons have to do with specific legal rights created by statute. Some common examples of wrongful termination in this context include:
- Discrimination. Both Congress and the Florida legislature have adopted broad Civil Rights Acts that forbid employers from terminating an employee based on certain identifiable traits, such as their race, gender, or disability status. Employers also cannot fire an employee based on age, provided that employee is at least 40 years old.
- Workers’ compensation. Florida requires employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage for all workers who may become injured on the job. As part of this requirement, an employer cannot fire an employee who files a claim or reports a workplace injury.
- Wage and hour violations. All employees have the right to be paid for their work in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Florida laws governing subjects such as the minimum wage. An employee cannot be fired for demanding their pay or being improperly classified as a worker exempt from the FLSA.
- Family and medical leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act provides eligible Florida workers with the right to take a certain amount of unpaid, job-protected leave to deal with a disability or sickness, or to care for a family member. An employer cannot fire an employee for exercising these leave rights.
- Breach of contract. Some employees may have contracts that specify they can only be fired “for cause.” An employer who breaches such a contract can be sued for damages.
- Retaliation. An employer cannot legally fire an employee for exercising any other legal right, such as filing a complaint for discrimination.
Contact the Sconzo Law Office Today
Taking on a former employer is never an easy decision. But it is often the right one. If an employer has fired you for an illegal reason, they are unlikely to admit their error absent the threat of legal action. So you should never be afraid to assert your rights in these situations.
A skilled Palm Beach Gardens wrongful termination attorney can guide you through this process. If you need to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, contact the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
