What Is the Average Payout for Wrongful Termination?

No one wants to lose their job. But it’s particularly distressing to be fired if your employer has no valid reason to let you go. Arizona employers don’t always need a reason to fire someone, but there are times when firing someone is against the law. This is called wrongful termination.

Matt Fendon Law Group can help you pursue fair compensation for the harm and losses you’ve sustained after being wrongfully terminated from your job. These cases can be challenging to prove, but an Arizona wrongful termination attorney from our law firm can examine your case to determine if you were fired for an unlawful reason.

You can learn your legal rights today. Call or contact us now for a one-hour strategy session with an experienced lawyer.

What Is Wrongful Termination?

Wrongful termination occurs when an employer removes a worker from their job for an unlawful reason. It can take a variety of forms, such as:

• Discrimination – Federal and state laws prevent employers from firing workers due to certain protected characteristics. These include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disabilities, and pregnancy. If you were fired due to discrimination or harassment based on these protected categories, you could have a wrongful termination claim.
• Breach of employment contract – Arizona is an at-will employment state. That means that your employer can terminate your job for any reason ― or no reason at all, as long it’s legal. But if you have an employment contract that outlines the conditions of your employment, you can file a claim if your employer fails to adhere to the terms of the contract.
• Termination for cause – Employers can fire workers “for cause,” which means there is some reason behind the action. It could be for misconduct, embezzlement, fraud, or another legal reason. However, even for-cause firings could be wrongful if the termination process was mishandled in some way. These cases generally involve workers who have employment contracts, so talk to a wrongful termination lawyer if you believe you may have been wrongfully fired for cause.

What’s the Average Payout for Wrongful Termination?

There is no average settlement amount for wrongful termination. Every payout depends on many unique factors, including:

• Back pay – If you were fired wrongfully, you deserve to be paid for the time you missed from work after your termination. This is commonly known as back pay. You can recoup some of your lost pay through a claim against your former employer, but plaintiffs also must look for a new job to mitigate their potential losses after being fired. If you get a job soon after being wrongfully terminated, you might not receive much compensation.
• Front pay – If you have not yet found a job after filing a claim, you can recover compensation for the cost of trying to find a job in your legal claim. This is called front pay and is generally only available in cases where someone cannot be reinstated as part of a wrongful termination case.
• Lost benefits – Many jobs come with secondary benefits in addition to your base pay, such as health insurance or stock options. If you were wrongfully terminated, you could be compensated for the value of these losses, which may be substantial.
• Emotional distress – Losing a job is extremely stressful. So is finding a new one after your employer fires you. You could obtain emotional distress damages in a successful claim.
• Size of the company you worked for – Larger companies have more financial resources and may be more willing to settle a wrongful discharge claim. However, bigger companies also have more to lose, so they can afford to hire larger legal teams to fight your case. A skilled wrongful termination lawyer at Matt Fendon Law Group can stand up for your rights and push for the justice you deserve.
• Attorney’s fees – If your claim is successful, your former employer may cover some or all of your costs from hiring a lawyer.
• Punitive damages – While compensation in wrongful termination cases is generally limited to economic and noneconomic harm you suffered, there are some cases where your employer can be ordered to pay additional compensation as punishment for their actions. Punitive damages are generally only awarded in cases where an employer was willfully or recklessly negligent in some way, such as engaging in workplace discrimination.

How to Maximize the Value of a Wrongful Termination Claim

At Matt Fendon Law Group, our wrongful termination lawyers have extensive knowledge of federal and state employment law. Here are some tips to potentially increase the value of your claim.

• Hire an experienced wrongful termination lawyer. Wrongful termination claims are complicated, especially because employers are granted a lot of latitude when firing workers. But we work to live. A sudden job loss can throw your financial security into upheaval. With so much at stake, high-quality legal representation is key to maximizing the value of your claim. Hiring an attorney also frees up your time to focus on finding a new job.
• Never accept your first settlement offer. Once you’ve agreed to a settlement, that’s most likely the end of your case. Never accept the first settlement offer. Most of the time, there’s bargaining room to negotiate for a better deal.
• File a wrongful termination lawsuit. While most claims end in negotiated settlements, filing a wrongful discharge lawsuit puts additional pressure on stubborn employers and may compel them to make a better offer. Most employers want to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit before a public trial to protect their reputations.
• List out all the harm you’ve suffered. Losing a job costs a lot more than just your lost wages, so be sure to include as many details about the harm you’ve suffered as part of your wrongful termination case.

Contact a Wrongful Termination Lawyer Today

Employment relationships are delicate and governed by state and federal law. Don’t let your employer get away with firing you unlawfully. Get an employment attorney from Matt Fendon Law Group by your side.

Deciding to file a complaint against a former employer can feel intimidating. Rest assured that we prioritize the attorney-client relationship. When you work with Matt Fendon Law Group, you’ll get a law firm with years of experience handling legal claims like yours sensitively and discreetly.
Call or contact us today for an initial consultation and case review.