Employment Law

How NJ Wrongful Termination Laws Protect You as an Employee

In today’s unstable economic client, jobs come and go much more rapidly than ever before. But what if you lost your job under illegal circumstances? There are laws in New Jersey designed to protect employees from being unfairly terminated. Each situation is unique — if you fear you have been a victim of wrongful termination, consult an NJ lawyer with the know-how to effectively evaluate your case. You might be entitled to compensation for wrongful termination.

What does it mean to work “at-will”?

In New Jersey, most employees work “at-will.” This means you can be fired at any time for any reason — or for no reason at all. However, if you had an employment contract guaranteeing job security, and you were terminated without due cause, you may have a claim for breach of contract. A group employment contract, such as a Collective Bargaining Agreement, may constitute an actionable employment agreement. Exceptions to the “at-will” rule may also include tenured professionals and civil service workers. For example, if you were a tenured professor and were terminated, you might be able to file a lawsuit.

Common Causes Of Wrongful Termination

  • Discrimination – Federal and state laws protect employees from being fired on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, pregnancy, or sexual orientation.
  • Retaliation – You are protected from being terminated for whistleblowing, reporting harassment, being involved in a harassment investigation, reporting illegal activities, and complaining about improper conduct at work.
  • FMLA violations – If you took family or medical leave within your legal bounds, and were let go from your job, it may be a Family and Medical Leave Act violation.
  • ADA violations – It is illegal to discharge a person for requesting a reasonable accommodation for his or her disability.

There are a bevy of state and federal laws designed to safeguard hard-working employees like you from wrongful discharge:

For more information about the statutes that apply to you, speak with a skilled New Jersey wrongful termination lawyer.

You’ve worked tirelessly all your life to secure a stable career path. Now that you’ve been unjustly discharged, let us work for you. Call the law firm of Aiello, Harris, Abate Law Group PC at (732) 253-4512  or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled and experienced New Jersey employment law attorneys.