Losing your job is never a pleasant experience, particularly if you feel you were unfairly dismissed. You may worry about how you will cover day-to-day expenses such as food and bills. If you have a family to support, this can be an even greater worry. Unfortunately, as Indiana is an employment-at-will state, you can be fired for almost any reason, any time.
As we have discussed before, there are various reasons for dismissal that are considered illegal. You may have even more rights if you had an employment contract in place. But how can you be sure that you have such a contract? What if your employer simply made promises without committing them to paper? If you feel you have been unfairly treated by your employer, it is important to challenge them both for your own sake and that of future employees.
An important thing to remember is that in the case of employment contracts, even an oral contract can be considered valid under law. As is explained here, the sort of promises that may fall under this ruling include the following:
- Agreements regarding the length of time you were to be employed for or the terms of that employment.
- Promises of a secure career or tenure within the company.
- Promises that you would only be dismissed for reasons related to your performance.
Of course, not just anyone can make these promises. But if the agreements were made with your employer or supervisor, they may hold legal weight. An attorney can help you understand whether you have a case and support you in pursuing compensation for your mistreatment.
