If you have recently lost your job in Birmingham, you may have been illegally dismissed, although, in the state of Alabama, employees are said to work at will which means they can be fired at any time and for any reason, as long as not illegal.
However, your dismissal could be illegal if there is discrimination involved, your contract has been violated or they are acting in retaliation towards you.
Under federal law an employer cannot fire you due to your race, religion, color, sex, disability and Alabama law also prohibits discrimination due to age, if you are over 40.
The law also protects you from being fired for complaining about discrimination or helping another employee to complain, or testifying in court about discrimination in your work place.
If you think that your firing was linked to discrimination, you firstly have to file your suit with a government agency. In Alabama the agency is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which has an office in Birmingham. Following that filing you can proceed with the lawsuit.
If your employment contract has any element promising that your job is for a specific length of time or stating that you are not an “at will” employee then you can only be fired for good cause. In this event you have a claim for breach of contract against your employer. Remember the contract can also be implied, it does not have to be in writing, so if at any time your employer promised you your job for a specific length of time and then fired you, you may also have a case.
