If you were fired for an illegal reason in Delaware, there are some laws in place that can protect you. Workers in Delaware have strong state and Federal laws that protect them from being fired for an unlawful reason. You may be eligible to file a claim against a former employer if you were fired for a discriminatory reason in Delaware.
What Is The Delaware Discrimination In Employment Act?
Delaware has a strong worker protection law called the Delaware Discrimination In Employment Act. The DDEA applies to all employers with more than four employees, which is most employers. This law makes it illegal for employers to fire, retaliate against, harass, or sexually harass any employee based on:
- Race (including hair texture, protective hairstyles and other traits historically associated with race);
- Marital status;
- Genetic information;
- Color;
- Age;
- Religion;
- Status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking;
- Pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions,
- Sex;
- Gender identity;
- Sexual orientation;
- National origin;
- Reproductive healthcare decisions;
- Caregiving responsibilities; and
- Disability.
In addition to the protection provided by the DDEA workers in Delaware are protected by Federal laws that make discrimination in the workplace or in firing illegal.
What Other Laws Protect Delaware Workers From Wrongful Termination?
Delaware, like many other states, is an at-will employment state. Most people assume that at-will employment means that an employer can fire any employee for any reason. And that’s true, to an extent. But employers can’t fire employees for reasons that are protected by state and Federal discrimination laws like race, age, gender, or religion.
Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act specifies that no employer can discriminate against or harass employees based on their race, sex, religion, or where they are from. And other Federal laws like the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Pregnancy Protection Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act specify that employers can’t discriminate against or fire employees for unlawful reasons.
Who Oversees the Wrongful Termination Laws in Delaware?
There are both state and Federal agencies that oversee the enforcement of wrongful termination laws in Delaware. The Delaware Department of Labor Office is the state agency that investigates claims of unlawful termination. And the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, is the Federal agency that investigates wrongful termination claims. Both have claim forms and information about filing claims on their websites.
The EEOC and the Delaware Department of Labor Office will share information, so you only need to file one claim. If they find that your employer fired you illegally you can file a claim against your employer and may receive damages.
Get in Touch With a Lawyer That Takes Delaware Wrongful Termination Claims
If you have been illegally fired in Delaware and you have questions about your specific circumstances you should speak with an employment attorney. You could be eligible to receive your job back, lost wages, promotions, or damages for pain and suffering if you were fired illegally by an employer in Delaware. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation form below and you’ll be connected with an independent employment attorney that takes cases in Delaware and may be able to answer your questions and help you start a claim.
