Are employers liable for wrongful termination?
In Washington, employers can be legally responsible for wrongful termination. This means that an employer must not fire an employee for illegal reasons, such as discrimination, retaliation, or breach of contract. Employers may be held liable if they terminate an employee for a protected class. For example, if an employer fires an employee because of their race, national origin, sex, or age, they may be liable for wrongful termination. Other protected classes may include religion, pregnancy, or disability status. Employers may also be held liable if they terminate an employee in a way that violates an employment contract. For example, if an employee has an employment contract that requires a certain amount of notice before termination or that prohibits termination without cause, they may sue their employer for wrongful termination if they are fired without that notice or without cause. Additionally, employers may be liable for wrongful termination if they terminate an employee in retaliation for exercising their legal rights. For example, if an employee reports something illegal the employer is doing, the employer may not be allowed to fire that employee in retaliation for the report. In Washington, employers must be aware of legal requirements when it comes to terminating an employee so that they don’t face liability for wrongful termination.
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