Retaliation & Wrongful Termination Attorneys in New Jersey

Were You Illegally Punished or Fired? We Can Help!

If you were recently reprimanded or fired from work, you might be wondering if what happened to you was legal. You’ve probably heard of wrongful termination before, but you might not know quite what it means. In short, it’s illegal for your employer to fire or otherwise retaliate against you because you engaged in a legally protected activity, such as speaking up about discrimination, wage practices, or safety issues.

If you think your employer terminated your employment for an unlawful reason, you can hold them accountable with help from The Law Firm of Morgan Rooks. Our New Jersey retaliation and wrongful termination lawyers are experienced legal advocates when it comes to helping employees assert their rights. With our assistance, you can seek legal remedies such as being compensated for losses and emotional distress suffered because of your employer’s actions.

Learn more during a free initial consultation. Contact us online or call (856) 746-6332 to get started!

What is Wrongful Termination?

When an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason, it is called wrongful termination. When this happens it is important to reach out to a New Jersey wrongful termination lawyer as soon as possible. If you have been wrongfully terminated, you may be able to sue your former employer. Generally this happens when you are fired for participating in a protected workplace activity. You will need to prove that the firing was illegal and that you suffered damages because of it. Contact an employment lawyer from The Law Firm of Morgan Rooks to discuss your case.

Protected Activity in the Workplace

Getting fired or receiving disciplinary action at work is incredibly stressful, even when it is not motivated by an illegal reason. Typically, an illegal reason to terminate or retaliate against an employee is when the employer wants to punish them for engaging in a protected activity. Engaging in protected activity is something an employee has a right to do without fearing reprisal from their employer.

Protected activities at work can include the following:

• Reporting sexual harassment
• Speaking up against discrimination
• Demanding unpaid earned wages or unpaid overtime
• Requesting or taking FMLA leave
• Being a whistleblower or participating in an investigation
• Complaining about workplace safety violations of OSHA regulations

Employees should expect to participate in protected activities such as these without fear. It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against the employee in any way for doing so. If retaliation does occur and involves firing the employee, the incident may validate a wrongful termination claim.

Examples of Workplace Retaliation

Retaliation at work can include getting fired, but it’s not limited to that. Cunning employers are well aware of the law and may take less overt measures to punish employees for illegal reasons.

Acts of retaliation an employer may use can include the following and more:

• Termination
• Selection for a layoff
• Demotion
• Failure to promote
• Denial of benefits
• Reduced hours or loss of the opportunity to work overtime
• Suddenly negative performance reviews
• Harassment
• Threats
• Physical violence

Measures that could be otherwise unlawful – like a demotion – may be masked to appear as if the employee is being reprimanded for a legitimate reason. Negative performance reviews can be concocted to this effect. That’s why it’s important to consider the circumstances surrounding a potential act of retaliation, such as whether the employee recently engaged in a protected activity or if their supervisor holds biases against people with protected characteristics.

Let Us Help You With Your New Jersey Wrongful Termination or Retaliation Case

Our lawyers in New Jersey can provide the legal support you need and thoroughly investigate your retaliation or wrongful termination claim. If you need help, reach out to The Law Firm of Morgan Rooks, P.C. for help.

Reach out to us online by submitting a contact form. When you do, ask how you can arrange a free initial consultation!