Employees in Minnesota might encounter bad days at work, but that does not mean that they should not address any issues they experience in the work environment. If an employee discovers unlawful treatment such as employment discrimination, it is important that they take note of these events and call attention to the appropriate group or person. In some matters, when an employee speaks out or is unfairly treated, they could lose their job through firing or layoff due to employer retaliation. If a job termination is not done properly or is carried out based on discrimination, the employee might have a claim for wrongful termination.
To begin, employees should note why a wrongful discharge is unlawful. If an employee is fired or laid off due to personal characteristics such as age, race or disability, this may violate state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Other illegal reasons for termination could also relate to sexual harassment, violation of employment agreements, violation of labor laws or firing an employee based on retaliation.
If any of these events occur, the employee has a right to file a claim. This process could ultimately lead to compensation being recovered. This often goes towards damages such as lost wages but could also compensate the employee for any emotional or mental damages the event caused the terminated employee.
In order to ensure the process is carried out appropriately, it is in the best interest of the employee to not react negatively to the employer even if this is an instinctive reaction. The employee should document the event to the best of their ability. The employee should also seek to review their personnel file. This step is crucial because it could provide a lot of information about their claim.
When an employee makes a wrongful termination claim, it could lead to a lengthy process. It is important that they fully understand their situation and rights involved. This will help the process move along and provide them with the best outcome available to them.
Source: FindLaw.com, “Wrongful Termination Claims,” accessed on Sept. 16, 2014
