Your termination could be wrongful if your employer fired you: Due to discrimination. In violation of a federal or state labor law. Because you reported and refused to participate in harassment.
While multimillion awards are possible, it is crucial to keep in mind that federal laws limit the amount of punitive and compensatory damages awarded in cases involving wrongful termination. They cannot exceed $50,000 – $300,000, depending on the number of employees working for the employer's business.
You may be able to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), depending on the nature of the wrongful termination. Both agencies can investigate discrimination or retaliation claims and take legal action against employers.
Valid reasons may include employee misconduct, poor performance, redundancy, or closure of the establishment. If an employer terminates an employee without just cause, the employee may be able to challenge the termination in court and seek reinstatement or compensation.
In law, wrongful dismissal, also called wrongful termination or wrongful discharge, is a situation in which an employee's contract of employment has been terminated by the employer, where the termination breaches one or more terms of the contract of employment, or a statute provision or rule in employment law.