Florida is an “at-will” employment state. Essentially, this means that employers can hire and fire at will without providing reasons or notice. Equally, it means that employees are free to leave without first serving a notice period.
That being said, if your employer fired you for the following reasons then your termination was most likely unlawful.
Fired because of your age
One morning, your boss called you into the office for a chat. They said that they are looking to rejuvenate the team and add some new members. They informed you that you just don’t fit in because of your age, and you should gather your things and leave. This is age discrimination and it is unlawful. Age, race, ethnicity, religion and gender are just some of the protected characteristics that cannot be used to justify a termination from employment.
Fired for asking about your pay
All workers should be paid fairly for the tasks that they carry out. At the very least, employees in Florida should be paid the minimum wage, which is $11 per hour. If workers exceed 40 hours per week, then they are generally entitled to overtime pay for the hours worked above 40. If you were fired for questioning your pay because it fell below statutory requirements, then this is unlawful and you may have a legitimate wrongful termination claim.
The laws surrounding wrongful termination can be complex. That’s why it’s so important to have legal guidance on your side if you feel that you have been mistreated as an employee.
