What Counts As Wrongful Termination Under Employment Law?

Losing a job is never easy, but when a termination is unjust or illegal, it can have serious financial, professional and even psychological consequences. While most U.S. employees work under at-will employment, meaning they can be terminated at any time and for almost any reason, many federal- and state-level protections prevent employers from firing workers unfairly.

But what constitutes wrongful termination under employment law, and what resources do employees have to protect themselves from this unfortunately all-too-common scenario?

Understanding Wrongful Termination in Employment Law

Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an unlawful reason, violating federal, state, or local laws, or breaching an employment contract. While at-will employment gives employers broad discretion to dismiss workers, they cannot fire an employee for illegal reasons, such as discrimination, retaliation, or exercising protected rights.