Being fired unexpectedly can turn your finances upside down. Oregon is an “at-will” employment state, which means employers can generally end a working relationship at any time. However, if your employer fired you for a discriminatory reason, in retaliation for reporting misconduct or other unlawful grounds, you may have a valid claim for wrongful termination.
Categories of wage recovery
Understanding the difference between these two forms of relief is essential to calculating the total financial loss caused by your unlawful discharge. Here is what you need to know about recovering lost wages after a wrongful termination. When pursuing a wrongful termination claim, monetary compensation generally falls into 2 categories:
- Back pay: This covers all wages and earnings lost from the date of the unlawful termination to the date of a court verdict or settlement. Beyond base pay or hourly wages, back pay may include lost wages, bonuses, expected raises, overtime, employment benefits and other compensation.
- Front pay: Courts might award front pay if returning to your former workplace is unrealistic due to severe hostility or a broken working relationship. This compensates you for future lost earnings while you look for comparable employment.
Oregon has strict rules about when you must receive your last paycheck. When an employer fires an employee, all earned wages are due by the next business day. If an employer intentionally fails to pay final wages on time, they may owe penalty wages under Oregon law. This penalty equals eight hours of your regular pay for every single day the final check is late, capping at up to 30 days.
Key steps to protect your claim
Losing your job to an unlawful firing is frustrating, but you don’t have to bear the financial burden alone. If you think you have been wrongfully terminated, don’t navigate the legal system alone. Reaching out to an experienced attorney could help you protect yourself and seek the fair compensation you deserve.