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Sometimes situations arise at work that make you feel discriminated against, such as being passed over for a promotion for someone less qualified, being subject to a hostile work environment, or being treated unfairly because of your sexual orientation. When these things happen, you may wish you could speak out against discrimination. Oftentimes people fail to speak up for themselves when they are being discriminated against due to race, gender, sex, or national origin because they fear retaliation from their employers. Fear of not being able to provide for yourself or your family may cause you hesitation, but know that the law may protect you from retaliation at the hands of your employer. If you or a loved one is being retaliated against at your job, it is in your best interest to contact the experienced Baltimore wrongful termination lawyers at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford so that we can strategize with you and begin to protect your rights.
You Maybe Protected
Maryland wrongful termination laws, which are modeled after federal laws, prohibit employees from being terminated for illegal reasons. A termination is considered illegal if it violates any law or any term that is put forth in an employment contract. Generally, in Maryland, employment is deemed to be “at-will” unless otherwise stated in an employment contract. At-will employment means that an employer can terminate you for any reason or for no reason at all so long as the termination is not illegal. Illegality can come in the form of discriminating against an employee because of his or her race, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
Illegality also refers to any termination that occurs due to retaliation against an employee for exercising his or her rights. For instance, if an employee complains to the human resources department that she is not being promoted because she is a woman, while a less qualified male coworker has been offered that same promotion, the employer is prohibited from disciplining or firing that employee because of the complaint. It is important to note, however, that retaliation and wrongful termination claims can be difficult to prove. Nonetheless, if a wrongful termination claim is successful, you may be entitled to back pay, having your job reinstated, as well as other damages for wrongful discharge. Because of this, it is invaluable to seek legal advice and representation if you find yourself being treated this way by your employer.
Need Legal Advice?
Fearing the loss of employment and not being able to provide for your family can be overwhelming and frustrating, especially when you are being treated unfairly in the workplace and are trying to right a wrong. Though this may be the case, there are protections under both federal law and Maryland law that may be available to you depending on your situation. If you or a loved one have experienced retaliation or wrongful termination, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Baltimore employment attorney at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford to help you with your case. Contact us via our website or by calling our office at 410-514-6099 so that we can put our resources to work for you.
(image courtesy of Simon Abrams)