Can You Sue for Wrongful Termination in Ohio?

Jun 10, 2019

By Peter Friedmann

What is considered wrongful termination in Ohio?

“Can you sue for wrongful termination in Ohio?” This is a question we get asked a lot.

Before answering that question, let’s look over what is considered wrongful termination in Ohio, what wrongful termination in Ohio is, and how Ohio’s at-will employment laws come into play.

Is Ohio an at-will state?

First, Ohio is an at-will employment state. This means that an employer can dismiss an employee for any reason without having to establish a reason for the termination or without warning, as long as the reason is not illegal. For example, it is completely legal to be fired or dismissed because of a personality clash between a manager and a subordinate.

When Can You Sue For Wrongful Termination in Ohio?

Can you be fired for no reason in Ohio? It is illegal to be fired for reasons that pertain to protected characteristics like race, gender, pregnancy, disability, religion, or nationality, among others. If you are terminated because of discrimination based on a protected class, it could be considered wrongful termination in Ohio. If an employee reported illegal activity, such as harassment or discrimination, to the human resources department and was subsequently fired for “rocking the boat,” this could also be a reason for wrongful termination in Ohio.

So, can you sue for wrongful termination in Ohio? The answer is yes, you can sue for wrongful termination, but it’s also important to understand how to prove wrongful termination in Ohio before moving forward with filing a lawsuit.

How to Prove Wrongful Termination in Ohio

First, let’s look at the three main reasons why an employee may be wrongfully terminated:

Retaliation: When an employee engages in a protected activity such as filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or reporting sexual harassment to HR and is retaliated against by the employer because of this activity.
Discrimination: when an employer fires an employee due to race, gender, pregnancy, disability, religion, nationality, or another protected characteristic under federal or Ohio law.
Violation of Public Policy: various instances where Ohio laws protect employees for engaging in certain activities, like termination prior to filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim, termination for reporting negligent credentialing in a hospital, etc.

Contact a Wrongful Termination Law Firm in Ohio

If you believe you were wrongfully terminated from your place of employment, then contact the employment and labor law attorneys at The Friedmann Firm. Our combined years of experience mean that you are getting comprehensive and helpful legal guidance from compassionate and understanding wrongful termination attorneys in Columbus, Ohio. Contact us today for a free case consultation about your wrongful termination in Ohio.

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