While Massachusetts is an employment-at-will state, meaning that you can be dismissed from your job at any time without cause, there are some reasons you cannot be terminated. You cannot be terminated if it is:
* Discriminatory.
* A violation of your contract.
* For exercising your rights.
Here are some of the rights you can exercise without fear of being terminated.
Compensation Rights
Employee rights in the state often center around employees being paid fairly and receiving the time off that they are entitled to under state and federal law. Hourly employees must be paid for every hour they work even if they quit or are terminated. If they file wage claims or testify in wage hearings, they cannot be terminated for exercising their rights.
If you’ve been terminated for exercising your rights in regards to your wages, you need to hire one of the employment law attorneys in Northampton, MA. They can file a wrongful termination lawsuit for you, which could result in getting your job back or getting a nice severance package from your former employer. Employment law attorneys can also take your case if you were terminated for taking time off that you’re allowed by law to take for certain activities.
Lawful Time Off
Under both federal and state law, employees are to be granted time off from their jobs for certain civic and personal responsibilities. These include:
* Military leave.
* Jury duty.
* Voting.
* Family and medical leave (FMLA).
If you are terminated for exercising these rights, you should contact Connor Morneau & Olin LLP. Their employment law attorneys can negotiate with the company to get your job back or file a wrongful termination suit against them and help you seek the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been terminated and you feel it was for exercising your lawful rights, contact an attorney to go over your case to see if you have a claim.
