What is the difference between wrongful termination and breach of contract?

Wrongful termination and breach of contract are two important legal concepts related to the workplace. Wrongful termination is when an employer terminates an employee without due cause or for an illegal reason. Examples of wrongful termination include firing an employee because of their race, gender, or religion, or firing an employee in retaliation for some form of whistleblowing. A breach of contract occurs when an agreement between two parties is broken. This can involve the breach of a written contract, a verbal agreement, or even an implied contract. For example, if an employer agrees to provide certain benefits to an employee and fails to do so, this may result in a breach of contract situation. In Tennessee, an employee who believes they have been wrongfully terminated can bring a lawsuit against their employer for damages. The employee must be able to prove that the termination was done for an illegal or discriminatory reason. Depending on the situation, the employee may also be able to recover wages lost due to the termination. In contrast, a breach of contract in Tennessee is usually enforceable under contract law. This means that a court can award damages to the injured party if it is determined that a breach of contract occurred. The court will typically look at the language of the contract itself to determine if there was a breach. Depending on the situation, the court may also consider the context and surrounding circumstances to make a decision.

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