Ohio is an at-will employment state. That means that most employees can be fired by their employers at any time for any reason – or no reason at all.
An important exception occurs when a firing happens under circumstances that violate laws put in place to ‘protect public health and safety.’ Simply, that means an employer cannot fire an employee because they reported a crime or safety violation or any else that – this particularly important – is protected by statute.
Look at it this way: if an employee can be fired for reporting fraud; or refusing to commit a crime; or for reporting dangerous work conditions; or reporting unsanitary food packaging, the public – you and I – are also harmed.
It’s important to all of us that those employees are uninhibited to report or take action to protect the rest of us.
Unfortunately, some employers don’t see it that way. Firing employees who are only trying to follow the law and help all of us is against the law – it’s against public policy.
If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated because of an action you took or a report you made, contact Hux Law Firm, LLC as soon as possible.
How to Recognize a Public Policy Claim
You have a public policy claim if you have been terminated because you acted to stop and/or reported something your employer was doing that could have – or has – had adverse effects on public health and safety.
There are four conditions must be met for an employee to bring a public policy claim in Ohio:
- A clear public policy already exists and can be found in a federal or state constitution, law, or administrative regulation.
- Firing the employee jeopardizes that public policy.
- The employee was fired because of their conduct related to that public policy.
- The employer did not have a legitimate business reason for firing the employee.
Again, each of these conditions must be met before a public policy claim can go forward.
What to Do
It is vital that you document as much as you can about the steps you took and your employer’s responses and actions. As you do that contact Hux Law Firm, LLC – you need professional advice as soon as possible.
Call Hux Law Firm, LLC for a free consultation. We can help. We understand that being terminated for acting for the better interests of the public is blatantly unfair and a horrible experience. We understand that it is financially and emotionally devastating.
Luckily, we also know the process and the courts. We know how to help. Talk to us. We’ll do our part to see you are made whole. No one should be fired for doing the right thing. Tell us your story.
