Your employment can end for a variety of reasons, but some of them are actually illegal. If you are terminated from your job for the wrong reasons, it can actually result in a wrongful termination lawsuit. Here are some things to ask yourself to determine if you have a valid case on your hands. 

Was The Termination Due To Retaliation?

Sometimes an employer takes it upon themselves to terminate someone's employment due to something that the employee did that was in good faith. For instance, they may have contributed as a witness to another person's workers' compensation claim. The employee may have reported an important safety violation that was not being addressed. Employees should be able to say something when they see something wrong happening in the workplace and not fear for their jobs as a result.

While it can be difficult to blame a wrongful termination on retaliation, having done something in good faith right before being terminated can help strengthen your case.

Do You Feel That You Were Discriminated Against?

Workplace discrimination is a very real issue that can happen over age, sexuality, race, or gender. It can be tough linking one of these reasons directly to your termination, so it will take a bit of deep thought to try to find that connection. The main way to tell if discrimination was an issue is if you were treated differently during your employment when compared to people of other classes. 

For example, you may have been passed over for promotions in favor of people who were married and had families. Or, you may have had an experience where women were not given opportunities that men were given. Being treated in this way can be used to prove that you were being discriminated against by your employer and that it likely led to your termination. 

Did You Violate Your Contract?

Many employers have detailed rules and regulations that you must follow as part of your employment, which includes grounds for dismissal. For example, there may be strict guidelines about not being late or a dress policy that must be followed while on the job. It is worth looking over your contract to verify that you did not violate any of the terms that you should be following. If the employer did not give you a reason for your termination that lines up with your expectations in the contract, this can be a good reason to pursue wrongful termination damages.