Experienced Wrongful Termination And Retaliatory Discharge Attorney Representing St. Petersburg Individuals
Even though Florida is an at-will employment state, your employer cannot legally terminate you based on your status as a member of a protected class or because you reported a workplace violation. If they do, you may be able to file a successful wrongful termination lawsuit and collect compensation for their illegal behavior. Attorney Craig Berman can help you take the necessary steps to rectify the situation and hold your employer accountable.
Wrongful Termination
It is illegal under both state and federal laws to terminate an employee based solely on their race, skin color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, citizenship status, genetic information, marital status, HIV/AIDS diagnosis, sickle cell trait or pregnancy. Your employer is required to offer reasonable accommodations in order to preserve your employment as long as the accommodations do not place an undue hardship on the employer. If they fail to do so and terminate you instead, they have violated both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA).
Retaliatory Discharge
If you see something happening in the workplace that is illegal, you should be able to report it to the appropriate party without fear of being harassed, punished or terminated. If you do report a violation and are let go as a result, this is considered retaliatory discharge. Though employers know this is illegal, it unfortunately happens quite often.
For example, say you notice that your co-workers are skirting safety precautions, and you report it to your boss. Your boss talks to your co-workers, but nothing changes and business goes back to usual, so you report the violations to the appropriate state safety commission. You come into work on Monday and your boss fires you for reporting the violations to the commission. This is a classic case of retaliatory discharge.
What You Can Do
If you have been wrongfully terminated because of your status as a protected class member or your report of workplace violations, you need to hire attorney Berman as soon as possible. He will help you file a complaint with the appropriate government agency and provide all the necessary documentation and evidence to support your complaint. If you need to appear for hearings or in court, Mr. Berman will represent you and ensure that your rights are respected. Get over 25 years of legal experience on your side and call Mr. Berman today to get started.
Berman Law Firm, P.A., provides trusted legal counsel to clients embroiled in wrongful termination and retaliatory discharge cases. Contact the St. Petersburg office today at 727-547-3316 to schedule a free consultation with an effective employment lawyer.