The ABCs of Avoiding a Custody Battle

Why It Is Important To Find A New Job After Being Wrongfully Terminated

by Barry Webb

If you believe and have evidence to prove that you were wrongfully terminated from your job, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer. If you have the right proof, a lawyer may agree to accept your case and begin working on a lawsuit against your employer. As your lawyer is working on your case, you may wonder if you really need to find a new job. After all, you may end up receiving a large settlement from the case. Here are a couple things you should know about this before you decide to forget about seeking employment elsewhere.

The Main Types Of Damages You Can Request

A wrongful termination lawsuit is designed to punish an employer for breaking the law, and it can end up resulting in a large settlement package for the person who was fired for a reason that is not legal. The main types of damages you can ask for in this type of case are the following:

  • Lost wages – The main type of damage in a wrongful termination case is lost wages. You can request the total amount of lost wages you experienced from being fired.
  • Lost benefits – The second main type of damage involves the loss you experienced in benefits from being fired. This includes all types of benefits, such as health insurance and paid vacation days you could not use.
  • Emotional distress – The final type of damage you could ask for is for emotional distress. If you suffered any types of emotional problems from being fired, this is something you can request in court.

The Responsibility To Look For A Job

Some people in this situation are under the illusion that they can just sit back and wait for their settlement to arrive instead of going out and looking for a job. While this might seem logical to you, the court will not view this in a positive light. Being wrongfully fired is not a good experience to go through, but it does not give you the right to not look for a new job.

In fact, the court may ask for documentation proving your attempts to find a new job. You may need to show a record of all the jobs you applied for and any interviews you attended. If you do not have proof that you have been seeking employment, the judge may limit the amount of damages you can receive for lost wages.

Keep in mind, you can ask for compensation for any costs you incur while you look for a job. In addition, you may be able to ask for compensation for lost wages if you are forced to take a job that pays significantly less than your original job.

If you were fired recently and want to know what your options are, contact a lawyer that handles wrongful termination cases, such as Hornthal Riley Ellis & Maland LLP.

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