What to do if I got fired and believe that it was for the wrong reason?
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What to do if I got fired and believe that it was for the wrong reason?
I wore a sticker saying I support Planned Parenthood and was called a baby killer by my boss. Two days later I was fired without warning over email for excessive texting even though nothing had been said about it before? Am I right to believe I was fired because of my support of Planned Parenthood?
Asked on April 30, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Louisiana
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You may have been fired over your support of Planned Parenthood; unfortunately, unless you worked for a government agency, department, or other entity, it is generally legal to fire someone over their political beliefs. The First Amendment protection of freedom of expression only operates against the government; the private sector does not need to allow free expression and may refuse to hire, or fire, people owing to their political beliefs or positions. If you had an employment contract which limited the grounds for which you could be fired, you could enforce that contract and only be terminated in accordance with it. Or if you believe (and believe you can show) that the termination was due to discrimination against you for your religious beliefs, you may have a discrimination claim--if you think that's the case, you should consult with an employment law attorney to expore it in further detail. But unless it was specifically religious-based discrimination, an employer may lawfully "discriminate" against someone owing to the policital, or social or cultural, beliefs.
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