Firing and retaliation
Fired for doing the right thing
Most jobs can end for almost any reason. Not for a reason the law protects.
If you were fired, demoted, moved to worse shifts or written up after you complained about discrimination, reported a safety or wage problem, took medical or family leave, filed a workers' compensation claim or refused to do something illegal, that can be retaliation.
What matters most is timing and paper: when you spoke up, who knew, and what changed after. I'll help you put that in order before the company tells its own version.
What it looks like
Cases I see most
You reported something
A safety hazard, fraud, or unpaid wages, and the write-ups started soon after.
You took leave
Medical or family leave, and your job wasn't there when you came back.
You complained
About harassment or discrimination, and HR's answer was a termination letter.
You were hurt at work
You filed an injury claim and were let go before you healed.
You said no
You refused to falsify records or break a rule, and lost your job for it.
They offered severance
A deadline to sign away your claims for a few weeks' pay.
Right now
If you were just fired
Write it down tonight
Dates, names and what was said, while you still remember the words.
Keep what's yours
Save your own texts, emails and pay stubs. Don't take company files.
Don't sign yet
A severance agreement can wait a few days for a lawyer to read it.
Apply for unemployment
Answer honestly and keep a copy of what you submit.
Questions
What people ask about firing and retaliation
Can they fire me for no reason?
Often, yes. Most employment is at will. But they can't fire you for a reason the law protects, and when the stated reason doesn't hold up, the real one often shows.
What can I recover?
Depending on the claim, lost pay, lost benefits, emotional distress, and sometimes your job back. Every case is different, and I'll tell you what yours could be worth only once I've seen the facts.
Should I take the severance?
Maybe, but read it first. Signing usually ends your claims. I'll tell you what you'd be giving up and whether there's room to ask for more.
Tell me what happened
A short call, and you'll know whether this is a case.
Contingency cases: no fee unless you recover. Case costs, like filing and transcript fees, are separate, and the agreement says in writing who pays them.