Can I be made an example of?
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Can I be made an example of?
I’ve worked for my company for 4 years. I’ve never had to many issues with the quality of work I do and I’ve always made my monthly numbers as required and then some. Lately I’ve had 2 verbal meetings with my manager, one for a complaint of a client that I resolved and another just this last week that resulted in my suspension for 3 days without pay and I’m now scared that they may be targeting me because of how much I am paid and possibly for a discriminatory reason due to a skin condition. I’ve never had issues like this in all the years I’ve been working here and now suddenly I’m on the verge of being fired.
Asked on July 23, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Nevada
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
If you are over 40, you are in a protected category due to age: you cannot be terminated or otherwise discriminated against in employment either directly due to your age (they don't want older employees) or indiretly (e.g. because older, more senior employees earn more). If you are less than 40, you are not protected on this basis, however.
If you have have a persistent skin condition (one that cannot be quickly or readily resolved) and which causes a major impact on your life, then it may be considered a disability; if so, they cannot terminate you due to it.
Even if you are 40 or have a disability, you can be terminated for unrelated valid reason, like customer complaints. The issue is--if any action is taken against you--whether there appears to be a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for it, or whether any stated reasons seem false or to be pretenses, and you are really are being terminated, etc. due to being over 40 or having a disability. If you think that is the case--that you are being discriminated against for one or both reasons--contact the federal EEOC to discuss filing a complaint. Illegal age or disability discrimination may entitle you to compensation, if it can be proven.
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