“Can they just fire me like that?” Usually, yes. At-will employment means no reason is required. But “wrongful termination” is the important exception: a firing that breaks a specific law, and the label only applies when you can point to which law was broken.
The main paths are firings motivated by discrimination, retaliation for protected activity like reporting harassment or filing a wage claim, terminations that violate public policy such as firing someone for jury duty, and breaches of an actual employment contract. Documentation, timing, and what was said all matter enormously.
What this section covers
- At-will employment and each of its exceptions
- Retaliation and whistleblower protections
- What to preserve and write down if you think your firing was illegal
- Severance agreements and what you may be signing away
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I write these pages as a law student, for general education. Nothing here is legal advice. If you are dealing with a real dispute, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.