Can I Sue My Employer if I Am Terminated for Something I Didn’t Do?
Merely getting fired because of false accusations in Ohio does not give you grounds to sue your former employer for wrongful termination. This sounds unfair, and it is. But federal laws and state statutes give employers in Ohio broad authority to fire workers for cause—even if that cause is an allegation that you committed a crime, error, or policy violation that cannot be proven true. The strongest grounds for claiming wrongful termination fall into the broad categories of discrimination and retaliation. An employer cannot base its decision to fire you on your race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, or military status. Likewise, an employer cannot punish you by terminating your employment because you engaged in what is called “protected activity.” A partial list of protected activities for which employees may suffer retaliation includes: Reporting discrimination or harassment Reporting illegal activities regulatory violations, or s...