Do You Have a Wrongful Termination Case After Being Fired from Your Job?
If you’ve been fired from your job for what you perceive to be unjust or even illegal reasons, you might have a wrongful termination case. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to bring a claim against your employer’s insurance, since most business insurance policies cover wrongful termination. If you’re not sure how this works, here’s what you need to know.
What Qualifies as Wrongful Termination?
It’s not unusual to feel that your employer made the wrong choice when he or she fired you. But it’s another issue altogether if you believe your employer broke the law when letting you go. There are several illegal reasons for firing someone, and if you feel your employer used one of them, you might have a wrongful termination case.
For example, if you think your employer fired you as a way to retaliate after you complained or brought a claim against your boss, it might be wrongful termination. Similarly, if your boss sexually harassed you and then fired you because you didn’t respond the way he or she had hoped, you may have been wrongfully terminated.
Additionally, if your termination violated anti-discrimination laws, labor laws, or employment agreements, your employer’s decision might be illegal. If so, you may be entitled to compensation after losing your job. For instance, your former employer may have to offer you a severance package or at least pay you a certain amount based on how much income you lost after the wrongful termination.
The Steps to Take If You Suspect Wrongful Termination
If you think your employer broke the law when firing you, resist the urge to contact the business or smear its reputation. Instead, get in touch with a lawyer who has experience with wrongful termination cases. To prepare for your meeting, get a copy of your employment contract and any evidence you have to show you were illegally fired.
How Business Insurance Factors In
Fortunately, most business insurance policies have the coverage in place to pay for a wrongful termination case. That’s because many policies include Employment Practices Liability Insurance, or EPLI. This coverage is meant to not only ensure employees are covered when they are wrongfully terminated, but also protect the business from bankruptcy after an employee brings a wrongful termination suit against it.
EPLI applies when a business gets sued for issues that include wrongful termination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, invasion of privacy, and discrimination. This coverage pays for the company’s court costs, as well as any settlements to former employees. So even if the company you worked for doesn’t have much money to spare, you don’t have to worry, because the EPLI policy should cover the costs.
If you think your boss broke the law when firing you, it’s worth looking into the issue. You can usually set up a free initial consultation with a local lawyer to determine if you have a case. As long as your former employer has business insurance that includes EPLI, you have a chance of getting the compensation you seek.
