Can I be wrongfully terminated for filing a workers’ compensation claim?

In Maryland, it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee for filing a worker’s compensation claim. This means if an employer terminates an employee for filing a worker’s compensation claim, they could be liable for wrongful termination. It is important to note, however, that filing a worker’s compensation claim does not automatically mean the employer is liable for wrongful termination. The first thing to understand in a wrongful termination case in Maryland is how an employer can be held liable. Generally, employers can be held liable if the employee was fired in violation of a state or federal employment law. In other words, the employee must prove that the employer’s decision to terminate was motivated by discriminatory or retaliatory motives. For instance, if an employer fired an employee in retaliation for filing a worker’s compensation claim, the employer could be held liable for wrongful termination. For an employee to successfully prove wrongful termination in this situation, they must be able to demonstrate that the employer was aware of their worker’s compensation claim prior to the termination and that the termination was linked to the claim. If the employee can prove this, the employer could be liable for wrongful termination and be forced to pay damages to the employee. In sum, filing a worker’s compensation claim does not automatically mean that the employee is wrongfully terminated. However, if an employer is found to have terminated someone in violation of a state or federal employment law, the employer can be held liable for wrongful termination.

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