The law gives a lot of leeway to employers when it comes to managing employees. Still, there are cases when employers go too far. One of the reasons why civil court exists is to make up for the wrongs committed against other parties. If you feel your rights were violated by your employer, you may be able to launch a successful employment lawsuit under certain circumstances.
- You Are Being Sexually Harassed
If you feel you are being sexually harassed at your workplace, this may be justification for a lawsuit against your employer. Often times, this occurs when a supervisor requests sexual favors. If you feel you have been punished for declining a superior’s advances, you certainly have a case to make in civil court.
- You Have Been Unfairly Overlooked for a Promotion
Employers usually form their own policies for who receives promotions and who doesn’t. While employers do have a lot of freedom in determining who is promoted, they must follow their own policies as well as all employment laws while doing so.
- You Were Singled Out Due to Your Background
According to Strianese PLLC Employment Lawyers, there are certain protected classes of people that cannot be fired or singled out in some way for belonging to a certain group. Employers are not allowed to treat a person differently based on their race, religion, color, sex, veteran status or disability.
- You Were Punished in Retaliation
Whistleblower laws prevent employers from punishing employees for reporting misdeeds and safety violations in the workplace. If you feel you were fired or overlooked for a promotion for whistle blowing, you certainly have a case to sue.
- You Were Punished for Refusing to Take a Polygraph Test
Federal law and many state laws allow a person to refuse taking a lie detector test. This cannot be grounds for firing or punishing an employee.
- You Were Fired for Being a Legal Foreign Worker
There is a difference between legal aliens and illegal aliens. If you have the paperwork to prove you can legally work in the United States, you can sue if you were fired for your alien status.
- You Were Punished for Being Too Old
Age is also a protected class under specific circumstances. If you are over the age of 40, you cannot be fired or overlooked for a promotion based on your age alone. This, however, does not apply to people under the age of 40.
Employers must follow the law in regards to how they handle employees. If you feel you have been unfairly targeted by your employer, you may have a case to argue in civil court.
This article is from Lizzie Weakley, a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. She enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her four-year-old husky Snowball.
