Many people think that you can only get fired from a job if you have done something to warrant termination. However, that is not the case in at-will employment states such as Oregon. An employer in an at-will employment state can terminate an employee for any reason, as long as that termination does not violate any laws.
When an employee is terminated for an unlawful reason, they have likely been wrongfully terminated. In Oregon, grounds for wrongful termination include:
- Discrimination: Termination based on protected categories as defined by the Oregon Fair Employment Practices Act or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (e.g., race, gender, or age).
- Retaliation: Termination based on employee’s engagement in legally protected activities such as taking leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Breach of contract: Termination violates contract employee signed when beginning their employment.
- Public policy violation: Termination violates public policy (e.g., firing an employee for not engaging in illegal activities).
If you file a wrongful termination claim against believe you have been wrongfully terminated, you may be entitled to damages from your employer. Employees may be entitled to the following:
- Back pay: Wages the employee would have earned had they not been terminated.
- Front pay: Wages for earnings the employee would have earned in the future if the employee cannot be reinstated.
- Emotional distress: Wages for the emotional pain and suffering an employee may endured as a result of their wrongful termination.
- Punitive damages: Damages awarded with the intent to punish the employer in cases involving extreme misconduct.
No one should have to lose a job for illegal reasons. If you were wrongfully terminated by your employer, there are steps you can take to make sure that your employer is held accountable for their actions.