Wrongful Termination

Discrimination is illegal, and employers cannot use it as a reason to fire an employee. The following are examples of employment discrimination that are prohibited by the State and Federal law:

• Discrimination based on race
• Discrimination based on gender and gender identity
• Discrimination based on religion
• Discrimination based on age (40 and over)
• Discrimination Against Pregnant Women
• Discrimination Against People with Disabilities
• Discrimination based on sexual orientation

Employers may not fire an employee in retribution for fighting for their rights or reporting illegal behaviour, such as discrimination. Employees are likewise protected from being fired if they join, create, or support a labour union. Employees are also protected from being fired if they cooperate with coworkers to improve their working conditions or pay/wage (with or without a union) or if they attempt to defend their wage and hour rights.

An employer is not allowed to fire an employee for engaging in protected whistleblower actions. An employee is protected as a “whistleblower” if they uncover covered business wrongdoings or law breaches that pose a major and particular risk to public health and safety and then disclose it or refuse to engage in the illegal behaviour. To be protected as a “whistleblower,” an employee must first provide their employer a fair opportunity to alter their behaviour or practice by bringing their discoveries to a supervisor’s notice before disclosing it to a public agency.

An employer may not fire an employee for asking or exercising certain protected rights, such as those listed below:

If an employee requests Family Medical Leave, the company must accommodate the request.