Wrongful Termination Usagov

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 24, 2025, 12:58 PM

Wrongful termination happens when your employer fires you for an illegal reason. Learn what qualifies as wrongful discharge and the actions you can take. Your termination could be wrongful if your employer fired you: Termination could also be considered wrongful if your employer fired you but did not follow their termination policies. If you were fired because of discrimination, file a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If you were fired in retaliation for reporting unsafe or illegal work practices or products, you have whistleblower protections.

Report your termination to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Find instructions for filing a whistleblower complaint. If you've lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation. Our information is written for federal employees and reviewed by attorneys highly-experienced in federal employment law. We follow strict internal standards to ensure everything we publish is reliable, transparent, and up to date. What is considered wrongful termination for a federal employee?

Wrongful termination occurs when a federal employee is fired in violation of federal law, civil service regulations, or due process protections. Common grounds include discrimination, retaliation, or failure to follow proper termination procedures. Federal employees can challenge wrongful terminations through the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or by filing an EEOC complaint, depending on the nature of the claim. In the federal government, you cannot be fired because of your age, color, disability, national origin, pregnancy, race or religion. In addition, it is unlawful to fire a federal employee in retaliation due complaints about an unlwaful action. As a federal employee, you have strong job protections.

But even with these safeguards, wrongful termination can still happen. Whether through unfair dismissal, discrimination, or retaliation for whistleblowing, navigating the complexities of federal employment law can be perplexing. So what happens if you’re suddenly terminated without just cause? Losing your job can be devastating. Here’s how to tell if your termination crossed the line and what to do next. Being fired without warning is always jarring.

Whether you were let go after raising a concern, taking medical leave or simply without explanation, the first question that comes to mind is the right one: Was I wrongfully terminated? The answer depends on more than fairness. It depends on the law. This guide explains what qualifies as wrongful termination, common examples and the steps you can take to protect your rights. If you believe you were fired unfairly or unlawfully, a labor and employment litigation lawyer can help you understand your options. Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee in violation of federal or state law, a written contract or public policy.

Most employment in the United States is “at will,” meaning employers can terminate employees for almost any reason—or no reason at all—so long as the reason isn’t illegal. That flexibility works both ways: employees can also leave at any time without penalty. Fired unfairly? This guide explains the legal exceptions to at-will employment and outlines the practical steps for documenting and pursuing a claim. Most employment in the United States is “at-will,” allowing an employer to terminate an employee for nearly any reason. However, this rule has limitations, as an employer cannot fire someone for a reason that is illegal under federal or state law.

Understanding the difference between an unfair firing and an illegal one is the first step in determining if you have a valid claim for wrongful termination. Wrongful termination occurs when a firing violates a law, public policy, or the terms of a contract. The most common illegal reasons for termination fall into the categories of discrimination and retaliation. These protections ensure employees are not dismissed based on their identity or for exercising their legal rights. Federal laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), prohibit termination based on a protected class. These federally protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, age (for those 40 and over), disability, and sex.

Under Title VII, protections for sex also extend to pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity. An employer cannot use a pretext, such as poor performance, to mask a discriminatory motive. There must be evidence suggesting the protected characteristic was a motivating factor in the termination. This can be direct evidence, such as discriminatory comments, or circumstantial, like a pattern of firing individuals from a specific demographic. If you feel that you have been wrongfully fired from a job or let go from an employment situation, learn about your state's wrongful discharge laws. Wrongful termination happens when your employer fires you for an illegal reason.

Learn what qualifies as wrongful discharge and the actions you can take. Federal and state agencies have laws about how and when employees can be fired. Follow these policies and your company guidelines to avoid wrongful termination claims.

Wrongful Termination Usagov

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