Losing your job
by: Wyoming Legal Services - Lander Office
Losing you job
In Wyoming, you have very few rights when you lose your job, whether you are fired or laid off. Below are commonly asked questions about losing a job.
What are the reasons why I can be fired?
Unless you have a contract with your employer, you can be fired for almost any reason. This is called employment at-will. Most jobs in Wyoming are at-will. Reasons may include showing up to work late, breaking company rules, or your boss doesn't like your haircut.
Are there any reasons why I can't be fired?
In Wyoming, you can't be fired because of your
- age,
- sex,
- race,
- religion,
- color,
- national origin,
- ancestry.
Also, you can't be fired for
- Whistle blowing: You can't be fired because you complain about illegal activity;
- Exercising your rights: You can't be fired because you need to take medical leave or serve on a jury;
- Being involved with unions: You can't be fired for starting a union or being a union member.
Click here if you think you were fired for one of these reasons.
How do I know if I have a contract?
Not all contract have to be in writing. Some contracts are spoken and are never put down on paper. You may have a contact if
- your boss told you that you won't be fired as long as you do a good job;
- your boss told you that you don't ahve to worry about losing your job.
If you believe you boss broke a promise when you were fired, you should talk to a lawyer.
What can I do if I lose my job?
- Write down what happened when you were fired. Write down the reason why you were let go. If you don't want to sue your employer, it's still a good idea to write things down. If you want unemployment benefits, you may need to prove that you didn't break any company rules.
- Ask to see your personnel file. Make copies of all the papers in it. Do not steal anything from your personnel file.
Get copies of any employee handbooks, brochures, job evaluations, and memos. Do not take anything marked "confidiential." You could get in a lot of trouble.
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