You may feel unsure about what to do after your employer fires you for reporting an incident at work without any explanation – especially if you had an outstanding work history. When a termination like this follows soon after reporting harassment or discrimination, it’s possible that it could involve unlawful retaliation, for which legal options may be available to you.
Understanding those possible options may be a helpful first step, though the right path likely depends on the specifics of your situation.
Signs your termination may have involved retaliation
All terminations are not necessarily illegal. However, certain circumstances may raise concerns about retaliation. These include when:
- Your employer’s explanation changed: Your employer gives you different reasons on different occasions or it just may not add up with your past work history.
- The timing was suspicious: If your employer fired you shortly after you reported a misdeed, the timing may help show what happened.
- Your employer is treating you unfairly: Your employer may have treated you differently from other employees after you made a complaint.
- Your work record changed suddenly: A series of positive evaluations followed by a negative one may suggest some sort of retaliation.
While no single factor proves retaliation on its own, a pattern across several of them strengthens the case.
Preserving your options
If you recognize several of these signs in your own experience, it may be worth speaking with an employment attorney who can review the details and help you understand where you stand. Doing so early may help preserve your options and give you a clearer sense of how to move forward.