Philadelphia Wrongful Termination Attorneys

Generally, at-will employees can be fired for any reason or no reason. There are several statutory exceptions to the at-will employment rule. If you were wrongfully terminated, you need to speak with an employment law attorney who can protect your rights.

At Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C., our employment lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. We will help you determine if you were wrongfully terminated and then create a personalized strategy for your case. You can call us now at 215-639-0801 for our Pennsylvania office or 609-683-4022 for our New Jersey office.

Understanding The Legal Exceptions To At-Will Employment

Most workers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York are “at-will” employees. This means your employer can generally fire you for any reason or no reason at all. However, “at-will” does not mean “at-mercy.” Federal and state laws create several powerful exceptions that protect you from illegal firing. Our attorneys focus on three main categories of wrongful termination:

• Discrimination: You cannot be fired because of your race, age, sex, religion, disability or other protected characteristics.
• Retaliation: Employers cannot terminate you for exercising your legal rights, such as filing a workers’ compensation claim or reporting safety violations.
• Breach of contract: If you have an employment contract or a union agreement, your employer must follow the specific rules outlined in those documents.

Many companies try to hide an illegal motive by claiming they fired you for ‘poor performance’ or ‘restructuring.’ Our attorneys investigate these excuses to find ‘pretext’ – the legal term for when an employer lies about the real reason for your termination. Our legal team uses their 100 years of combined experience as employment law litigators to uncover the truth and hold your employer accountable.

Answers To Common Questions About Wrongful Termination

Most people feel a firing is wrongful if it is unfair, but the law has a much narrower definition. Our attorneys have provided these answers to help you see if your situation meets the legal standard for a claim.

Does “at-will” employment mean my boss can fire me for any reason at all?

While your boss can fire you for a neutral reason or no reason, they can never fire you for an illegal reason. Laws like the Civil Rights Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act override “at-will” status to protect you from bias and harassment. If your employer bases their decision on your identity or your refusal to do something illegal, they have violated the law.

My employer said they fired me for “performance,” but I know that is a lie. Can I still sue?

Yes, you can still sue if you can prove the “performance” excuse is a cover for an illegal motive. We look at evidence like your past positive performance reviews, the timing of your firing and how the company treats other employees in similar situations. Our attorneys build a case to show the court that the employer’s stated reason is a sham designed to hide discrimination or retaliation.

If I sign a severance agreement, do I give up my right to sue for wrongful termination?

While severance agreements typically bar you from filing a lawsuit for personal recovery, they cannot legally stop you from reporting workplace violations to government agencies. You should never sign severance documents under pressure. We review these agreements for our clients to ensure the compensation is fair and to explain exactly what rights you are giving up before you sign.

Talk To A Lawyer Now About Your Wrongful Termination Case

You can schedule your free consultation at any of our offices now by contacting our firm. You can call our Pennsylvania office 215-639-0801 or call the New Jersey office at 609-683-4022 for our New Jersey office. We can also be reached by email.