Advocating for You in Connecticut Wrongful Termination Cases
Simply put, wrongful termination is being fired for an illegal reason.
Although most employees in Connecticut are employed as at-will employees, no employer is permitted to terminate your employment because of a reason which violates the law.
If you feel you have been wrongfully terminated, you should have a skilled employment attorney on your side.
At Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau LLC, we have been advocating for employees throughout Connecticut who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs for more than 20 years.
Understanding at-will employment and wrongful termination
In virtually every U.S. state, including Connecticut, at-will employment is the presumed relationship between employer and employee. Under this arrangement, your employer can terminate you for any reason or no reason at all, but not for a reason which violates the law. There are various reasons that an employer is not permitted to use as a basis to terminate an employee, including:
- Discrimination: Federal laws, as well as laws in Connecticut, identify various characteristics or classes which are protected and which an employer is not permitted from using as the basis for discriminatory treatment. For instance, under these laws, you cannot be fired because of your race, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation or gender identification, military service, pregnancy, or genetic information. You also cannot be terminated from your employment because you have taken, or attempted to take, medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, or because you require a reasonable accommodation for a qualifying disability. You also cannot be fired for filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), for requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability or religious practice, or for opposing harassment based on a protected characteristic with your employer.
- Breach of contract: If you have a contract with your employer that makes a promise, and your termination breaks the promise made, the contract is said to be breached. An express employment contract is one in which all terms are spelled out, including duties, compensation, and benefits. An implied contract is also valid and recognized by Connecticut, and is often based on employee handbook information or a letter extending an offer of employment.
- Retaliation: There are many laws which prohibit retaliation against employees who have engaged in certain activities which are protected under the law. For instance, it is illegal for an employer to terminate your employment because you opposed or complained about discrimination based on a protected characteristic, complained about sexual harassment, or “blew the whistle” on an illegal practice by your employer.
- Violation of public policy: Connecticut law also prohibits employers from terminating employees for reasons that violate important public policies. Examples of these types of claims can include situations where employees expressed opposition to practices by an employer that were fraudulent, or in violation of a statute or regulation, or refused to undertake an illegal act as part of their employment, and were terminated because of that conduct.
Time limits on filing a wrongful termination claim
There are deadlines to file claims for wrongful termination. Therefore, if you have been or feel you have been wrongfully terminated, do not delay in getting help from a Connecticut attorney with experience in employment law.
If you have been wronged, let us help make it right
Find out how we can help you get justice and compensation for your wrongful termination case. Call us at (860) 246-2466 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.
If you feel that your rights have been violated by your employer, it is important to contact an attorney at once to ensure that your rights are adequately protected. Failure to complain about the unlawful conduct of your employer within certain deadlines can negate your right to take action.