wrongful termination

wrongful termination n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer for damages (loss of wage and "fringe" benefits, and, if against "public policy," for punitive damages). To bring such a suit: a) the discharge of the employee must have been without "cause" and he/she had an express employment contract or an "implied" contract based on the circumstances of hiring; or b) there is a violation of statutory prohibitions against discrimination due to race, gender, sexual preference or age; or c) the discharge was contrary to "public policy" such as in retribution for exposing dishonest acts of the employer. An employee who believes he/she has been wrongfully terminated may file a lawsuit for damages for discharge, as well as for breach of contract, but the court decisions have become increasingly strict in limiting an employee's grounds for suit.