Because employees in Florida work in an ‘at-will employment’ state, they may not know that wrongful termination can still occur. Even though you can basically get fired for any number of reasons or no reason at all, employers in Florida still have to comply with federal laws. This means that workers can’t legally be fired for reasons involving their race, age, gender, disability, country of national origin or color. The at-will employment status of our state doesn’t allow for or endorse discrimination.

Florida is an At-Will Employment State

Workers in Florida are likely very familiar with being employed in an ‘at-will employment’ state. Unfortunately, some employers will fire an employee for a discriminatory reason and try to get away with it under the at-will status. Perhaps, they think they can get away with it, or maybe they think the employee won’t question it because, after all you can get fired for a number of reasons in an at-will employment state or for no reason at all. Even with Florida’s at-will employment status, termination can still be deemed wrongful in a variety of situations, especially when some time of discrimination is involved.

Examples of Wrongful Termination in an At-Will Employment State

• Getting fired because of your age.
• Getting fired because of your race.
• Getting fired because of your gender.
• Getting fired because of your religious affiliation.
• Getting fired because of your disability.

When to Call an Employment Law Attorney

If you have been wrongfully terminated, you should contact an experienced Southwest Florida employment law attorney as soon as possible. You may be able to collect compensation for your damages associated with the wrongful termination. An attorney can help you through the complicated legal processes involved with this type of case. Cases are time-sensitive, so the sooner you contact an attorney the better. Your employment is your livelihood, and you can’t afford to lose your job because of discriminatory or wrongful practices. Even if you’re not sure if you’ve been wrongfully terminated or not, you should still speak with an attorney. Working in an at-will employment state doesn’t give your employer the power to terminate you for discriminatory reasons. Contact the experienced team at Weldon & Rothman, PL for a consultation today.

Legal Disclaimer: The above guidelines are educational in nature and do not create an attorney/client relationship. It is highly recommended that all Florida citizens with employment law issues contact an experienced local Florida employment law attorney to assist them with specific facts and circumstances regarding their labor and employment law matter. If you have been the victim of illegal activities at your workplace, then feel free to contact Attorney Rothman at Weldon & Rothman, PL toll free at (877) 730-5180 or via e-mail at info@weldonrothman.com

Bradley P. Rothman is an experienced Florida employment law attorney who has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star.  He is a principal member of Weldon & Rothman, PL – a Southwest Florida law firm with offices in Naples, Fort Myers, and Sarasota.