Employment in the state of Ohio is mostly considered to be "at-will" employment. "At will" means that for any reason, both the employer or the worker may end the work relationship at any point. In "at will" employment, the only basic exception is that the reasons for termination must not be illegal or in violation of the law.

Employment that is not considered "at will" is not subject to the same restrictions, however, and so it is critical to discover whether your employment is so classified. Arrangements for employment that are under a defined term contract are not "at will", and can only be terminated according to the clauses contained in the agreement.

What are the Illegal Grounds for Terminating At Will Employment in Ohio?

In an Ohio at-will employment, discrimination is the most common unlawful ground for terminating an employee. Termination by an employer cannot be done on the basis of race, nationality, gender, or religion. A Beachwood employer also is prohibited from terminating at-will employees as a form of retaliation if the worker has sought an investigation into discrimination or has filed a legal claim for discrimination against the employer.

Furthermore, according to the Family and Medical leave, employers are prohibited from firing employees who take leave for family or medical purposes. Finally, employers cannot terminate employees who are simply exercising a legal right, performing an obligation under law, or refusing to do an illegal act.

Do I Need a Ohio Attorney for My Wrongful Termination Case?

A local Beachwood, Ohio attorney can better inform you about whether a wrongful termination has occurred, and will also help in collecting the appropriate documents for your case. There may also be unique procedures that an attorney can shepherd you through.