Wrongful terminations typically occur on account of illegal discrimination, retaliation, or breach of contract. 

Employees are victims of discrimination when they are treated less favorably and terminated because of their race, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic identity/heritage, citizenship status, obesity, medical history, marital status, political activity, or need for leave to care for an ill family member.  

 

Employers engage in illegal retaliation when they terminate an employee in response to a refusal to submit to unwanted sexual advances and as the result of complaints of discrimination, retaliation, work conditions that impact public safety, misrepresentations designed to mislead investors, and the failure to pay wages.

 

Employment contracts often include terms that restrict an employer from terminating an employee.  A termination becomes wrongful or illegal if it violates the terms of an employment contract.