Denver Wrongful Termination Lawyers
Workers in Colorado usually have at-will employment. This means that their employer can fire them for any reason or no reason. For example, a company can fire an employee simply because they no longer want to employ them.
However, at-will employment has its limits. Employers cannot discriminate against workers based on fixed characteristics like race, national origin, or sex. Similarly, they cannot fire workers for exercising their legal rights.
Workers can also be wrongly terminated from job duties they are contracted to perform. If an employer breaches an employment contract by ending it early or for reasons other than those given in the agreement, they may be liable for wrongful termination.
Since 1996, Bachus & Schanker has fought for workers and accident victims in Denver, Colorado, who have suffered due to someone else’s wrongful actions. We understand the tremendous hardships workers can face after being wrongfully terminated, and our attorneys stand up to businesses of all sizes on behalf of our clients.
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Denver Wrongful Termination Claims We Handle
After you have been fired unfairly, a Denver employment law attorney from Bachus & Schanker can evaluate your situation and determine your legal options going forward. Some grounds you may have for a wrongful termination case include the following:
Employment Discrimination
U.S. and Colorado laws prohibit employers from firing workers based on certain characteristics, including:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Religion
- Sex
- Pregnancy
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Age over 40
- Genetic information
Employment discrimination laws also prohibit employers from firing you for complaining about unfair treatment on any of those grounds. For example, a lawyer can assist you if your employer fired you for complaining that Spanish-speaking workers get paid less than English-speaking workers.
Retaliation
Similarly, your employer cannot retaliate against you for any of the following actions:
- Reporting the employer for labor or safety violations
- Assisting another worker in a discrimination claim
- Refusing to provide sexual favors or submit to sexual harassment
- Filing a wage or hour complaint with the state
- Taking family or sick leave you are entitled to take
Employers often conceal when they retaliate against a worker. A lawyer can help uncover evidence of retaliatory firings.
Exercising A Legal Right
Colorado law protects workers from being fired for off-premises, off-duty legal activities that do not interfere with their ability to perform their jobs. For instance, a retail worker probably cannot be fired for legally smoking marijuana at home on their own time. However, a delivery company might have grounds for terminating a driver for the same activity.
This type of case can be tricky because the worker must show that the grounds for termination were unrelated to any bona fide job requirement or were not necessary to avoid an actual or apparent conflict of interest. A Colorado wrongful termination attorney from Bachus & Schanker can analyze your employer’s actions and help you understand any legal claims you may have against it.
Breach Of Contract
Companies must follow the expressed and implied terms of their employment contracts. Thus, they can only terminate contractors for the grounds stated in their contracts. If they terminate contract workers for any other reason, the worker might have a claim for breach of contract.
If you work as an independent contractor and lost your job for any reason other than those stated in your contract, you may have been wrongfully terminated. Our wrongful termination lawyers in Denver can review your contract and assess your claims for breach of contract.
Remedies For Colorado Employment Claims
Your Denver wrongful termination lawyer can pursue several types of remedies, including:
- Reinstatement with restoration of your pay and seniority level
- Payment of back pay
- Compensation for lost benefits, such as health insurance
- Reimbursement of costs from the firing, such as job search costs
- Compensation for emotional distress
The average settlement for wrongful termination depends on the worker’s pay before they were fired. Workers who earned a higher wage may have the leverage to fight for a larger settlement.
You may be entitled to seek significant compensation for your employer’s wrongful actions. A Colorado wrongful termination attorney from Bachus & Schanker can review your situation and explain the compensation you can seek for your firing.
Time Limits For Filing A Colorado Wrongful Termination Case
In Colorado, the statute of limitation for wrongful termination varies depending on the type of claim. You may have up to three years to file a breach of contract claim. However, claims for discrimination must be reported to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within 180 days for a federal violation or 300 days for a state and federal violation.
This means you have no time to delay in filing a wrongful termination case. If you fail to act promptly, you could lose your right to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. The Denver wrongful termination attorneys at Bachus & Schanker can help you understand your rights so you can act quickly to preserve any legal claims you have.
Contact Our Denver Wrongful Termination Lawyers Today!
Getting fired for unfair reasons can be traumatic and financially devastating. Fortunately, you can reach out to the wrongful termination Colorado lawyers at Bachus & Schanker to discuss your situation and learn how we can help you pursue a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Citations:
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-402. (2024).
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-402.5. (2024).
Filing a Complaint. (2024).
What’s “Retaliation” or “Interference”: What Activity Is Protected? What Acts Are Illegal? (2024).
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Written and Legally Reviewed By: Kyle Bachus
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,461 Google Reviews
Kyle is a member of the Colorado Bar associations and has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for more than twenty years in total. Over the years, Kyle has achieved justice for many clients. He has served on numerous committees and repeatedly won recognition from his peers at both the state and national level. He is proud of the role he has played in the passage of state and national legislation to protect consumers and is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer.
