Especially in this economic climate, you may heavily rely on the earned income from your job and appreciate the financial stability it affords you. Unfortunately, though, your position at the company may not be as secure as you always assumed, and your employer may unexpectedly inform you that you have been let go. Understandably, it is difficult to get closure after getting the rug ripped out from under you, so to speak. Well, if this closely relates, please read on to discover whether you can get fired without warning or reason and how a seasoned Gloucester County New Jersey wrongful termination lawyer at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. can help you better understand your rights in the matter.
Can I be fired without warning or reason in New Jersey?
We regret to inform you that New Jersey is an employment-at-will state. This means that your employer has the legal authority to terminate your employment without giving you a “heads up” on their upcoming decision or disclosing any reasoning for it at all. Sadly, this may stand regardless of how well you may have performed in your job position or how loyal you have been to your company thus far.
With that said, though, there may be extenuating circumstances in which your employer cannot and should not fire you, even if they offered warning or reason. These circumstances may constitute wrongful termination, which may prompt you to initiate legal action against them. Examples read as follows:
- Your employer fired you due to discrimination against your protected class (i.e., race, age, gender, religion, etc).
- Your employer fired you due to your reporting their violation of a certain employment, civil, or criminal law.
- Your employer fired you due to your refusal to participate in unlawful activities or behaviors in the workplace.
- Your employer fired you without cause even though your employment contract nullifies their right to do so.
Am I allowed to ask my employer for their reasoning?
You are legally allowed to ask your employer the reason for your firing. However, they are not legally obligated to give you a response. This all goes back to New Jersey’s at-will employment laws. If your employer is open to explaining, though, you may make a second request to have them put it down in writing.
After reading it, you may be valid in your feeling that what they wrote was insubstantial or groundless. Even worse, you may pick up on words or phrases that signal their discrimination or spitefulness toward you. If so, it is best to show what they wrote to a lawyer and see whether this is cause for a wrongful termination lawsuit.
To ensure you do not go through this critical yet complex process alone, please reach out to one of the competent New Jersey employment lawyers. Our team at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. is more than happy to serve you.
