Many people have concerns about losing their job after an injury at work. Some have known people who have lost their job after an injury. Some people think their company will fire them if they hire an attorney.
Many people ask the following questions during their initial consultation with me: “Will I get fired for hiring an attorney?”
I cannot tell you for sure what your employer will do. What I can tell you is that I have never had a client get fired for hiring me. So, the chances are probably pretty slim that you will get fired for hiring an attorney.
Why Would Your Employer Fire You For Hiring an Attorney?
As I mentioned, I do not know of any client who has ever been fired for hiring me. Why is that?
I believe it is because it would usually not be smart for your employer to fire you for hiring an attorney. Hiring an attorney could actually make it less likely that you will get fired. There are two reasons for this.
- Your employer knows that you were willing to hire an attorney about one legal issue. This means that you are more likely to hire an attorney to help you out if they violate the law when they fire you. Most companies want to avoid an additional claim.
- It can hurt your employer in the workers’ compensation case if they fire you. One of the ways that companies decrease the money they pay in workers’ compensation is bringing you back to work. When they fire you, they usually lose the chance to do this.
Does my employer need a good reason to fire me?
The truth is that your employer may be able to fire you for just about any reason. They can even fire you for a stupid reason. Most employees in Georgia are in an “at will” employment relationship. This means your company can fire you for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all.
Your employer might fire you for hiring an attorney, but I have seen many more people who were fired who did not have an attorney. This can put you in a bad situation. You may be able to get workers’ compensation benefits afterward, but you will probably have to go to court.
What protections do I have from being fired?
Your employer cannot fire you for some prohibited reasons. Certain federal laws prohibit your employer firing you because of your race, your sex, and your religion among other things. If you have been fired for a reason that you believe is improper, you should contact an attorney who specializes in employment law.
Our firm does not handle employment law cases but we do know attorneys that do. If you need help and would like us to recommend someone, just give us a call us at (770) 214-8885.
