Losing your job unexpectedly can leave you stunned. If you believe your employer had no valid reason for letting you go, you may be facing wrongful termination. These situations often come with confusion, anxiety, and a rush to understand your rights. You might feel powerless, but there are clear steps that help you move forward including hiring an employment lawyer.
Acting quickly matters. What you do in the hours and days following your dismissal can affect your options. Whether the cause relates to retaliation, discrimination, or violations of company policy, assessing unfair termination situations with a level head is the first step. In this article, we will go over the stapes to take.
1 Document everything
As soon as you’re fired, start writing everything down. Don’t wait. You might forget the details quickly, so it’s better to get it all out right away. Write down the date, time, and what was said when you were let go. Include the names of anyone who was there. If you had any meetings before this, jot down what was talked about.
Save every email, message, and work review you can find. Even small notes or quick chats could help later. If you were told you were doing a good job not long before being fired, that could matter. Take screenshots, download files, and keep everything in one place.
You’re not trying to build a case right now. You’re just collecting facts. If you talk to someone later, like a legal expert, these records will help explain what happened. They might show something wrong, like unfair treatment or sudden changes. Without proof, it’s just your word against theirs. So save everything you can, as soon as you can.
2 Ask for clarification
Once you’ve saved your notes and records, ask your employer why you were fired. Do this in writing. It’s an important step. Getting a clear answer can help you figure out what really happened and what your next move should be. If they tell you the reason, compare it to what you know.
Keep your message short and polite. You don’t need to argue or explain anything. Just say you would like the official reason for your termination in writing. Send it by email so there’s a record. If you’re not sure who to contact, send it to your manager and someone from human resources.
3 File a complaint
If you think you were fired for the wrong reason, you can file a complaint with a government office. This makes your case official. Most people file with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC. Some states have their own offices that handle these problems too. You don’t need a lawyer to do this, and it doesn’t cost anything.
There are time limits, so don’t wait. In most places, you have 180 days from the day you were fired to file. Some states give you more time, but it’s better to do it as soon as you can. When you file, you’ll need to give your name, your employer’s name, and a short explanation of what happened and why you think it was unfair.
