Five Signs a Termination May Have Been Wrongful

Most wrongful terminations don't come with an explicit illegal reason stated out loud. They come wrapped in a neutral-sounding explanation. Here are patterns worth paying attention to.

1. Suspicious Timing

A termination that follows closely after a complaint, a leave request, a disability disclosure, a pregnancy announcement, or a request for accommodation is one of the most common and persuasive forms of circumstantial evidence. Timing alone doesn't prove a case, but it's often the first thing worth examining closely.

2. Shifting or Inconsistent Explanations

If the stated reason for termination changes over time — "performance" becomes "restructuring" becomes "a different reason entirely" — that inconsistency itself can be evidence that the real reason is something the employer isn't stating.

3. Being Treated Differently Than Similarly Situated Coworkers

If coworkers outside a protected category, in comparable roles, with comparable performance, weren't disciplined or terminated for similar conduct, that comparison can be powerful evidence of discrimination.

4. A Sudden Change in Performance Narrative

An employee with a history of positive reviews who suddenly receives a wave of negative write-ups shortly before termination — especially after a complaint or leave request — is a recognizable pattern worth scrutinizing.

5. Pressure to Sign Something Quickly

Being asked to sign a severance agreement or release on the spot, with little time to review it, can itself be a signal that the employer wants to lock in a waiver of claims before the employee has a chance to evaluate the situation.

None of These Prove a Case Alone

These are patterns worth noticing, not a checklist that automatically proves a claim. Every case depends on its specific facts, and an employer can have entirely legitimate reasons that happen to coincide with one of these patterns. That's exactly why a case evaluation looking at the actual facts — not a generic list — is the right next step.

This is general information, not an assessment of any specific situation — a free consultation can review your actual facts and timeline.