You have noticed some significant issues at work. Maybe you feel like you are being discriminated against based on your religion or your gender. Perhaps you have witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace or even faced harassment yourself. Maybe your boss offered you a promotion in exchange for a sexual relationship, or perhaps other employees have created a hostile work environment through the use of insults or rude jokes.
You want to make a report regarding this behavior. Your goal is to put an end to it and to stand up for your rights as an employee.
But should you be worried about your job at this time? Is it possible that your employer is going to retaliate by firing you, so your job could be at risk if you report what has been happening in the workplace?
A wrongful termination
Many people are worried about this, and it is understandable. If you report an executive at the company for sexual harassment, you may naturally worry that the company is going to fire you, the lower-level employee, to try to cover up the issues with the executive.
But the thing to remember is that this would be an illegal wrongful termination. Your employer cannot fire you for making reports about harassment, discrimination or similar issues. You can also make reports about workplace safety violations or even legal violations, such as a company that is intentionally breaking the law. If you are fired for making these valid reports, you can then sue the company for wrongful termination.
This helps to show why it is so important to understand all of your legal rights and options as an employee. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, it can help to work with an experienced law firm.