Georgia Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination is a form of employment discrimination, and the primary purpose of federal antidiscrimination laws, like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, is to protect workers in Georgia and other states from unlawful discrimination in employment, which includes the act of firing an employee for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons. If you live in Georgia, and you believe your employer unfairly discriminated against you by terminating your employment, you may have a claim for wrongful termination. Consult a reputable Georgia employment law attorney today to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit against your employer.
Georgia an “At-Will” Employment State
Like most states, Georgia is an at-will employment state, which means employers in GA have the right to discipline or fire employees at any time and for any reason, or for no reason at all. However, there are wrongful termination laws in place that protect employees in Georgia from being fired for reasons that are considered unlawful or illegal. For example, in Georgia, an employer’s decision to fire an employee may be considered wrongful if the decision is based on the employee’s membership in a protected class, is based on a protected activity, or violates an employment contract promising job security.
Types of Wrongful Termination in Georgia
Even though employees in Georgia work “at-will,” employers may still be liable for wrongful termination if they fire an employee in retaliation for the employee exercising his rights, or for another reason that violates an employee’s right to fair treatment in the workplace. Under state and federal antidiscrimination laws, an employee have a wrongful termination claim against the employer if his or her termination:
- Was based on a protected characteristic. According to state and federal antidiscrimination laws, employers in Georgia are prohibited from firing an employee on the basis of a protected characteristic, such as race, sex, disability, religion or national origin. Employees who believe they have been fired because of their membership in a protected class may have a wrongful termination claim against their employer.
- Violated an employment contract. If you have a written, oral or implied employment contract that promises you job security, you may not be considered an at-will employee, and your employer may not be able to fire you without good cause.
- Was based on a protected activity (retaliation). Employees in Georgia have certain rights under state and federal antidiscrimination and wrongful termination laws, and these laws protect employees from being fired in retaliation for engaging in a protected activity, such as filing a workers’ compensation claim, reporting illegal activity on the part of the employer, or taking time off work for certain civic obligations, like jury duty.
An Experienced Georgia Wrongful Termination Lawyer Can Help
Even with state and federal wrongful termination laws in place, employers in Georgia continue to fire employees for reasons that violate their basic rights. If you recently lost your job in Georgia, and you believe your employer’s decision to fire you was based on a protected characteristic or in violation of an employment contract, contact an experienced GA employment law attorney today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against your employer, and a qualified attorney can help improve your chances of a favorable outcome in court.
