1. Wrongful Termination Scenarios
  2. I Was Forced to Resign. What Should I Do?

I Was Forced to Resign. What Should I Do?

A forced resignation is when there is pressure on you to leave your job. This can have an effect on your future career as well as your self-esteem. In some circumstances, being forced to resign is illegal, and some employment discrimination laws can protect employees if they have been forced to resign.

A forced resignation isn't always the result of illegal activity. However, in these cases, it's often illegal:

  • Discrimination: When forcing an employee to resign because of his or her race, gender, religion or another protected characteristic.
  • Whistleblower: This is when an employee is fired for reporting safety violations or other illegal behavior within the company.
  • Retaliation: This happens when employees are forced to leave after reporting unsafe working conditions or other illegal activities within their organization.

Constructive Discharge: What Is It?

A constructive discharge occurs when your employer has made working conditions so bad that you feel you must leave the job. In most cases of constructive discharge, the employer intentionally created uncomfortable or even hostile working conditions for the employee.

This type of discharge can be illegal under federal law and state laws protecting workers from discrimination in the workplace. When an employee is forced out due to intolerable working conditions, he or she does not need to be physically forced from the premises or fired by his or her supervisor in order to win a case against his or her employer.

What to Do Next

If you believe that you've been forced to resign illegally, fill out a free case evaluation form today.