Did you know that there are firm rules in place when it comes to termination of employment in Canada? These rules protect working Canadians, but not all employers follow them. Many Canadians every year are victims of wrongful termination, and they may not even know it.
I am here to talk about a few signs that you were a victim of wrongful termination so you can start taking steps toward justice. Read on to learn more.
1. Reasons for Termination Were Vague or Suspicious
When someone gets fired, their employer should be able to tell them why it's happening. If the employer is being vague, you may have a wrongful termination claim on your hands.
Of course, vague and suspicious reasons aren't a sure sign that the termination was wrongful. However, they give you a good reason to dig deeper and hire a wrongful termination lawyer, especially if you have other reasons to be suspicious.
2. You've Reported the Company or Employees
You may be the victim of retaliation. If you filed a report against an employee or the business as a whole, even if you were right to do so, your employer may retaliate against you and fire you.
This is not legal. Employees have the right to report illegal practices. A wrongful termination lawyer will help you determine whether or not the firing was retaliatory.
3. There Are Other Signs of Prejudice or Discrimination
If you've noticed other signs of workplace discrimination before the firing took place, it's a red flag that you may have experienced wrongful termination.
So what would those signs look like?
They could be obvious, such as racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory remarks that other employees or employers make within the workplace. Other signs include people from certain groups not receiving promotions or receiving punishments more often.
If those things seem familiar, it's not out of the realm of possibility that your termination was also discriminatory.
4. Selective Enforcement of Policies
If you were terminated for a policy violation while others who did the same things were not, it could be an indication of wrongful termination.
At your workplace, all employees should receive the same treatment (within reason). If you know that you were the only person to receive that type of punishment, it's a sign that there's something else behind your termination.
5. Your "Firable Offense" Should Be Protected
Sometimes employers try to get around wrongful termination by terminating employees for reasons that they argue have nothing to do with discrimination.
For example, an employer cannot fire an employee for being pregnant. They may instead try to fire the employee for taking sick leave too often, knowing full well that those sick days are due to pregnancy. This is still wrongful termination, and a wrongful termination lawyer will try to help you prove it.
Have You Been a Victim of Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination is serious, and you don't have to accept it. If you believe that you're a victim of wrongful termination, it's time to contact a lawyer for help.
J. Leigh Daboll is here to help. Reach out to my law office so we can go over your case together. You don't have to go through this alone.