What is the difference between wrongful termination and constructive discharge?
Wrongful termination and constructive discharge are two different types of illegal employment practices under the law in Maryland. Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is involuntarily terminated from their job in violation of the law. This could include an employer firing an employee for an illegal reason, such as for their race, age, gender, or religion. Constructive discharge is a slightly different situation. It is when an employer creates a work environment so hostile or intolerable that the employee is forced to resign their position. This could include an employer retaliating against an employee for engaging in a legally protected activity, such as filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment. In either case, the employer has violated the law and the affected employee may be eligible to pursue legal action. To summarize, the difference between wrongful termination and constructive discharge is that wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired from their job for an illegal reason, while constructive discharge occurs when an employer creates a hostile work environment that results in the employee being forced to resign their position.
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