Can I be fired becauseI was pregnant?
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Can I be fired becauseI was pregnant?
I was fired from my job recently and I think it was because I was pregnant. However they stated it was because of something else. I was finished with my probation period already and 2 days after I lost my job I found out I was having a miscarriage due to stress. Now I am in need of a job and not eligible for unemployment with baby bills racking up. What should I do?
Asked on August 29, 2011 Alaska
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You cannot be fired for being pregnant; that would be discrimination anf a violation of feseral law. However, that having been said, if your termination was due another reason unrelated to your pregnancy (a job performance issue or the like) then yes it was legal to let you go. Your employer had full discretion as to whether or not to continue your employment with the company. As a general rule, an employer can hire/fire an employee for any reason or no reason at all. That is, so long as the employee is an "at will" employee. Therefore, in your situation, unless you had an employment contract or union agreement to the contrary, or this action violated company policy, you have no actionable claim.
At this point you should contact your state's department of labor and/or an employment law attorney to go over the specific facts of your case.
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