{"id":4797,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/wrongful-termination-laws-illegal-reasons.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T05:45:35","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T10:45:35","slug":"wrongful-termination-laws-illegal-reasons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/wrongful-termination-laws-illegal-reasons.html","title":{"rendered":"Wrongful Termination Laws: Illegal Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wrongful Termination Laws: Illegal Reasons<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Employers should be aware of wrongful termination laws<\/a>. Wrongful termination means firing an employee for reasons unrelated to their job performance. Wrongful termination claims can cost a small business more money than they want to spend.<\/p>\r\n

Most workers in the U.S. are "at will<\/a>" employees. At-will employment, the employer or the employee can end the working relationship without cause. State and federal laws state employers may not fire employees for discriminatory<\/a> or retaliatory reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Wrongful termination laws apply to all employees, regardless of the business size. Firing employees for improper reasons violates federal laws and leads to severe penalties.<\/p>\r\n

Discrimination<\/h2>\r\n

Workplace discrimination means hiring or firing workers based on race, gender, or other traits. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act<\/a> of 1964 makes it illegal for any employer to fire an employee because of their:<\/p>\r\n