I was wrongfully terminated from a job under an "at will" contract. Do I have any recourse?
374120
Even for "at will" employers, they cannot terminate an employee for an illegal reason. So if you have evidence that your termination was illegal, then I would seek the advice of an employment lawyer.
870344
The time limit is two years and yes, you can being a suit against them although get a really good atty. because they will make it look like you werent going to file suit until you found that you cannot get a job elsewhere. They should have fired this guy you were not the only one he was harrassing so, they made a wrong choice, in your suit you could ask that he be fired and that you get your job back. Also, if you still talk to anyone else he was doing this too I would suggest you trying to get them to go in with you on this lawsuit.  Just write down as much info as you can about what all he did, when, where etc. Good luck
624338
Walking off the job give the employer more pull .Too late to mention he should have finished the day and called in the next , to go to the labor association in your city .Ask a lawyer ( advice is free) .Good luck and try the labor association.
1025958
There are "right to work" states and "work at will" states, they type of employment place in effect in the state where you are employed is important to knwo to answer the question.\n\nEssentially in a right to work state, once employed an employer cannot fire you except under serious circumstances, those empployers will usually practice a form of progressive discipline.  (3 strikes and you're out!)\n\nIn an at-will state the employer can terminate you without cause.  Employers may have a progressive discipline program in place but need not adhere to it in order to terminate.\n\nEither way you indicate your boss may have had reasons to discipline you and you gave notice, so a panel is unlikely to support a wrongful discharge claim.  2 weeks notice is never necessary, it is a courtesy, and in some right to work states by announcing your intention to leave the job you forfeit your protection under the law. \n\nSome companies, especially small business owners, don't accept two weeks notice if the employee is going to another job bcause it demonstrates the employee's heart is no longer in the job.  The figure why pay someone for two weeks of mediocre work and give them 2 weeks to steal customers for the new job.
797788
That depends on why you were terminated.\n\nYou don't want to lie, one because its dishonest, and two because it could come back to haunt you.\n\nIf you were terminated due to a conflict with another employee, say so.  You don't have to go into details, but it would help to make it clear that it was an isolated incident.\n\n7 years in one place shows you have some staying power.  While that it good, most employers would understand if you (or your previous employer) determined it was time to move on.\n\nYou also could state that you had hit the ceiling at that particular job, so it was time to move on.\n\nIf you were terminated for illegal action that was reported, that will quite likely come up on a background report.\n\nSo again, it comes down to why you were terminated, and it is up to you to sell that if you are hired, you wont be forcing the new employer to make the same decision down the road.
896128
That would be an illegal garnishment of wages/salary, thus subject to a court order; not a bosses whim or any such contractual obligation. I can not believe the ignorance of some of the answers to this question. It would be a null and void contract, if you signed any such document, so you may wish to contact the proper state/municipal authorities.
634976
That would be a verbal contract. If you have any receipts for you expenses or labor that would prove you did work for the guy, you can take him to small claims court. A witness or two with no personal interest in your side of the case would be nice to. You could chance bringing it to small claims court and just hope he is honest enough to own up to it. But chances are slim on that. If you have any phone messages from him acknowledging any thing to do with the work, that would help a lot.
802992
What state are you in.  It matters.  Some states are at will states, in which case you can be fired for any reason not specifically protected by Federal law (and usually even for that, because you can't get proof).\n\nAlso matters what type of employment.  Unless there is some ethical fiduciary relationship, you're probably sol.
1028556
You have every right to sue for wrongful termination and discrimination.I wish you the best of luck in dealing with this but you can win.All you have to do is contact a lawyer and go from there.
538603
yes, you committed a murder, you know you might even be able to be sued for breach of contract as well lol\n\nedit, ok just probably not, how do you know that person that hired you wasn't an undercover cop or something trying to get scumbags like contract killers off the street?
635605
If you reeeally need this job, I'd go to the Labor Board. It sounds like A$Shole wanted to find a reason to get rid of you.  You might come out on top in this one, but even so, will your employers make your job a living hell by always looking for legal ways to fire you again and again? Just think it over.  "Choose your battles" was some of the best advice I ever got.
910710
Hello,\n\nThis situation is now rather ambigious (unclear) because normally if you have a written contact of employment, it would state clearly the amount of time required to terminate the contract with the employer. But if you've no written contract then your on thin ice as it where!. You only have the employers word for it, & of course an employer can make up the rules as they go along if that suits them? (yes! it can be very tricky).\n\nIf you've now completed your notice period of six weeks, your fully within your rights to leave immediately and without having to give yet further notice to end the employment.\n\n**The employer sounds like they made you a "verbal offer" of a better salary ( a carrott to make you stay on!!) or job promotion. However, if the verbal offer hasnt materialised or was broken i.e. not kept too! or apears to be just an empty promiss. Again your within your legal rights to leave, you havent broken any emplyment laws here as far as I can see.\n\n**I woudnt believe a word of anything offered further as an incentive to stay. i.e  the employer or manager is NOT to be trusted if they dont deliver on any promises made. Sadly you can only go by the past track record of how they have behaved towards you.\n\nHope that might be of use? IR
681149
This is the website for Right to Work States in the US: http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm\n\nIf there is a problem, I suggest that you contact the US Department of Labor at http://www.dol.gov/ \n\nIf the state statutes allow, you can file a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit. You may also want to contact the NH Bar Association for an attorney that handles Employment Law. \n\nGood Luck!
584890
unless there is some form of employment contract, employment is "at will."  employers can terminate an employee for any reason at any time EXCEPT for a reason that is based on that employee being a member of a protected class, which is also known as illegal discrimination.\n\nso - if some employees are terminated and others are not for doing the SAME thing, it is up to the wrongfully terminated employee to prove that their termination is a form of illegal discrimination.  i have no opinion on your specific case, as you've not provided enough detail for me to have one.\n\nif i were the owner, and a customer was trying to provoke an employee, i'd invite them to leave the premises.  if they didn't leave, i'd have them escorted off the property for trespassing.  this presumes that the owner/manager is present during the incident.  if i learned my employee responded to a customer's provocation, i'd reprimand the employee UNLESS i thought that the employee was either too far over the line, or this wasn't the first time - in which case, they'd be out the door immediately.  like it or not, customers pay the bills, and a restaurant with employees that talk back to customers EVEN when they are in the right will find it hard to keep the doors open.  \n\nif i were you - a co-worker - i'd keep my mouth shut unless i felt like looking for another job real soon.  unless you are a manager in this company, if is not your place to question the personnel decisions of your employers.
562606
Call the Texas Dept of Labor. They are usually quite helpful. But unless you got the two weeks severance in writing, you are probably hosed.
671255
Terminated, stopped, fired or let go without your agreement.
1126389
Wrongful termination!!!  SUE THE CRAP OUT'a THEM!!!