Posted: July 19, 2017
Unemployment can have a devastating effect on a person's life. However, if you have been a victim of wrongful discharge, you may be able to seek justice and compensation with the help of an experienced unemployment attorney.
James Shoemaker has years of experience helping those who have been wrongfully terminated, and as a partner at Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, has the resources to take on even the largest corporations.
Have You Been Wrongfully Discharged?
There are legal protections in place across America at the state and federal levels that prevent employers from terminating someone based on, for example:
- Discrimination: Laws vary from state to state regarding discrimination, but generally you cannot be fired solely because of your race, gender, or age. Protections for sexual orientation or gender identity vary by local law.
- Retaliation: Employers may not fire you in retaliation for something like whistleblowing or reporting harassment or discrimination.
- Violation of public policy: Employers may not fire you in violation of public policy. This includes, for example, refusing to break a law at the behest of your employer.
If any of these examples apply to you, seek an unemployment attorney for a consultation to see if you have a wrongful termination case.
Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
If you have been fired, demoted, passed up for promotional opportunities, or given an unreasonable workload based solely on your race, gender, age, or other inherent characteristic, then you may have a case for an employment law attorney.
Likewise, if you have been harassed at work by coworkers or managers due to any of these characteristics, you may have a case if you went to HR and either nothing changed or you were retaliated against.
Retaliation By An Employer
It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against you when you engage in a protected activity. These types of protected activities can include:
- Reporting discrimination or harassment
- Reporting fraud or other illegal activity by a coworker or superior
- Reporting overtime violations
- Reporting violations of federal or state acts such as the Sarbannes-Oxley Act (SOX)
Schedule a Consultation with an Unemployment Attorney
James Shoemaker has extensive experience handling employment law cases, and with the resources of major law firm Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, is able to help you obtain the best possible outcome.
Call 757-223-4580 today to schedule your consultation. In addition to litigation, we also offer legal advice regarding employment contracts, severance agreements, unemployment benefits, and more.