We’ve all seen wrongful termination cases in the news. We know that they happen, and we know that they can be very expensive to litigate. But what do you do if you think your firing was a wrongful termination? What steps should you take before going to court? In this blog post from James Hawkins Class Action Attorneys, we will discuss what not to do when you have been fired from your job so as not to give up any rights or protections under the law.
What Not To Do When You’ve Been Fired
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What Not To Do When You’ve Been Fired
Don't Leave Without Saving Important Documents
When you are fired, the last thing you want to do is leave without saving any important documents. This includes your employee ID, pay stubs, and anything else that can prove that you were employed by the company. If possible, try to take pictures or make copies of these documents before leaving. You may also want to save any emails or other documents that seem important. Having these things can be very helpful if you decide to take legal action against your former employer for wrongful termination or discrimination.
Insofar as you are able, try to gather all of the information up at once and save it in one place (if this is not too obvious). You never know when an attorney might need something from you, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Don't Retaliate Against the Company
It can be very tempting to retaliate against your former employer after being fired, especially if you believe that the firing was wrongful. But doing so can seriously hurt your case. In most states, it can be harmful to your case to take any retaliatory actions against an employer after being fired — until you’ve consulted with an attorney. If you have been wrongfully terminated, the best thing you can do is contact an attorney and let them handle things from there. Retaliating inappropriately against your former employer will only hurt your case and make it harder to get the compensation you deserve.
Don't Miss the Chance to Ask for Clarification of Your Dismissal
If you have been fired, it is very important that you ask for clarification of your termination and the reasoning behind it. Even if you don't want to fight back against wrongful termination charges, this information can be helpful in later negotiations. If they were clear about their reasons at first — and why they thought firing was necessary — it may help down the road.
Don't Broadcast Your Firing Publically
When you're fired from a job, it's tempting to tell everyone who will listen. You may also want to post about your wrongful termination on Facebook or LinkedIn if this is what happened to you. However, doing so can hurt your case and make getting compensation more difficult for two reasons:
First of all, the company might hear about the post and use it as evidence that you were not wrongfully terminated. They may argue that, since you were already disgruntled with the company, you must have been looking for a way to get fired.
Second of all, potential employers might see the post and be less likely to hire you in the future. After all, if you can't keep your feelings about a past employer to yourself, they might wonder what you'll say about them if you're fired.
It's always best to keep any information—positive or negative—about your wrongful termination private until you have consulted with an attorney. That way, you can be sure that anything you say won't hurt your case down the road.
Do you believe you have been wrongfully terminated from your job? If so, don't hesitate to contact James Hawkins Class Action Attorneys. We can help you determine your next steps and fight for the compensation you deserve.