Are you worried that you could lose your job and experience financial distress as a result? The job market is very mobile. Millions of people enter the workforce every year. Meanwhile, some companies go bankrupt, and whole industries get decimated. And even workers with stable roles in lucrative industries sometimes worry about their employment status.
Learning more about your legal rights is the best way to overcome any concern about losing your job. Here are three essential things every employee should know.
1. You Are Protected Against Wrongful Dismissal
The first important thing you should know is that you cannot be dismissed without a lawful reason. Just because your managers may not like you, they cannot fire you in an instant. Being fired without a valid excuse is a wrongful dismissal for which the employer can face legal consequences. Wrongful termination happens because some employers think they can get away with it. However, you can defend your rights by filing a claim.
2. Termination Could Be a Breach of Contract
A set of laws protects employees against wrongful termination. However, there are scenarios when an employer can terminate the contract legally. Termination is legal when the job position ceases to exist, the employee is experiencing legal incapacity, or the employment contract arrived at its end date.
If the employment contract does not specify an end date, either party can demand termination by giving a notice. What if an employee does not fulfill their duties and responsibilities? In this case, the employer has the legal right to terminate the contract.
Also Read: Details to Include in Your Employment Contract
If you are being threatened with termination, look at your state laws for a better understanding of your particular situation. Are you in Los Angeles? A local attorney can tell you when termination of an employee contract is unlawful. Turning to an experienced attorney can help you determine the best way to move forward. Without help, you may feel overwhelmed and lost due to all the legal jargon.
3. The Law Recognizes Unfair Dismissal
If you have no experience in the legal field, you may think that anything unfair is also illegal. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. However, labor laws do recognize that employees often lose their jobs unfairly. When is dismissal considered unfair? Being fired due to joining a trade union or refusing to give up on your employee rights or benefits is considered unfair dismissal.
In addition to all the above, you cannot be fired for a characteristic such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or pregnancy. If you’re in this situation, you can sue your employer for discriminatory behavior and demand financial compensation.
Final Words
After pouring your energy and time into your job, it can be disheartening to realize that your employer could dismiss you. Losing a job is a big life challenge, and not everyone has the resilience to overcome such an event easily. Thankfully, labor laws offer many layers of protection to workers, so be proactive about protecting your rights. Don’t let an employer ruin your financial future.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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