Reporting Wrongful Termination in Minneapolis

Losing your job can create immediate financial pressure. Learning that your employer may have fired you for an illegal reason adds another problem: You now have a limited time to protect your rights and preserve the evidence needed to prove what happened.

Minnesota generally allows employers to terminate at-will employees, but at-will employment doesn’t give your employer the right to discriminate against you. If you have questions about reporting wrongful termination in Minneapolis, contact the dedicated unlawful firing attorneys at Wanta Thome for help.

What Counts as Wrongful Termination?

Wrongful termination happens when an employer fires you for a reason that the law prohibits. A termination may be found to violate state or federal law, even if your employer tells you it’s based on your performance or some other excuse. Illegal termination can occur due to protected characteristics including, but not limited to:

  • Race
  • Sex
  • Disability
  • Age
  • Religion
  • National Origin
  • Sexual orientation

Your employer also can’t legally retaliate against you for certain protected actions, including reporting discrimination or engaging in legally protected whistleblowing. Our Minneapolis attorneys can explain how to report an unlawful termination and help you pursue potential remedies in court if you believe you have been illegally fired.

Where Can You Report Wrongful Termination?

For discrimination and certain retaliation claims under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, you can file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. While it can also be a good idea to make an internal complaint to human resources, such action shouldn’t replace a government filing or lawsuit.

If you need guidance on reporting an unlawful firing, a Minneapolis lawyer at Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers can identify which laws protect you, determine the deadlines that control your case, and help you take the steps necessary to pursue your claim.

How Long Do You Have To Report a Wrongful Termination?

If you were wrongfully fired in Minneapolis, you have no reason to delay submitting a report with help from our attorneys. Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, for example, a person generally must bring a discrimination claim or file a charge within one year from the date of the discriminatory act.

Delays also cause problems beyond legal deadlines. The evidence necessary to prove your claim becomes harder to collect as time passes, as you may be unable to locate former coworkers or obtain certain workplace records. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible if you believe you’ve been wrongfully terminated.

What Evidence Can Help Prove an Illegal Termination?

Your employer likely won’t admit that it fired you based on a protected characteristic such as your gender or race. You can build a strong case by comparing what the employer says now with what actually happened before the termination.

When you report an illegal firing in Minneapolis, there are steps you can take to strengthen your case, including saving all of the following documents:

  • Your termination notice
  • Performance evaluations
  • Disciplinary records
  • Employment contract
  • Employee handbook
  • Pay stubs
  • Any relevant communications

Timing can also serve as evidence. If your employer fired you shortly after you complained about discrimination or cooperated with an investigation into the company, this could be a sign that the termination was unlawful.

Contact a Minneapolis Employment Lawyer To Report an Unlawful Termination

Wanta Thome helps employees challenge illegal workplace conduct and understand what recovery their circumstances support. If an employer illegally ended your career or retaliated against you for exercising your rights, Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers can help you take action. Each day you wait gives the employer more time to defend its decision while your legal deadlines move closer. Contact us today and schedule a private consultation with our team to discuss reporting wrongful termination in Minneapolis.