What are illegal reasons for terminating an employee?
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees in violation of federal and state employment laws. Under federal law, employers must not discriminate against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age. They also must not discriminate against people with disabilities when those disabilities can be reasonably accommodated. Some states prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status or whether employees receive public aid. An employee who is terminated in violation of an employment contract also may have a legal claim against the employer.
