Michigan is an at-will employment state, which means an employer can fire you for any lawful reason or no reason at all. 

However, there are some significant limitations to an employer's ability to fire you. Although an employer can fire you for no reason, an employer cannot fire you for an illegal reason. In some cases, when an employer terminates your employment for no apparent reason, it is an attempt to conceal the real motivation for your dismissal.

Under state and federal law, employers cannot fire an employee (or take any other form of adverse employment actions against an employee) if the employee belongs to a protected class. This means you may have the basis for a wrongful termination lawsuit if your employer fires you based on any of the following reasons:

• Your age.
• Your gender.
• Your race, ethnicity, or the color of your skin.
• Your religion or lack thereof.
• Your nationality or national origin.
• Your marital or familial status.
• Pregnancy.
• Military service or obligation.

It is also against the law for an employer to fire you because you exercised a legal right related to your employment. For example, an employer cannot fire you for reporting or participating in an investigation related to discrimination, illegal workplace conduct, unsafe working conditions, or violating wage and hour laws. This would constitute illegal retaliation.

Employers are also prohibited from firing you in violation of the terms of an employment contract. For example, some employment contracts explicitly state that an employee cannot be fired except "for a good cause" and usually define what constitutes "good cause." If an employment contract contains this language, it overrules the employment relationship's default "at-will" status. Some employees have individual employment contracts, while others are subject to agreements negotiated and agreed upon by the employer and their union. 

If you believe you have been fired for a discriminatory or illegal reason, you should reach out to a dedicated employment law attorney for assistance. Sommers Schwartz is a renowned Michigan employment law firm that exclusively represents employees. They offer free consultations to all prospective clients and can be reached at https://www.sommerspc.com/.

If you are wondering whether to consult with an employment lawyer, now is probably the right time. An employment attorney can help resolve potential issues before they turn into large-scale problems. For example, if you believe that your employer is mistreating you and you fear your job may be on the line, an employment attorney can intervene by communicating with your employer on your behalf. As soon as your employer realizes you are working with an attorney, they may listen more attentively to your concerns. Having a third party negotiate on your behalf can also help mitigate elevated emotions and smooth over difficult conversations or confrontations.

If you believe that your employer is violating wage and hour laws, refusing to compensate you for overtime pay, or failing to protect your health and safety in the workplace, a lawyer can help negotiate a resolution or bring a claim in court to compel your employer to comply with the law.

If you have been fired for no apparent reason, it may also be time to consult with an attorney. While Michigan is an at-will employment state, employers cannot fire you based on an illegal reason. For example, state and federal laws prevent employers from firing employees based on discriminatory reasons. Employers are similarly prohibited from firing employees if they exercise a legal right, such as reporting discrimination, a wage and hour violation, or a workplace safety violation. 

If you have been fired for no apparent reason soon after reporting an unsafe workplace or wage and hour issue, you may be able to assert that your firing was "pretextual"—a seemingly neutral reason that actually covers up an improper motive. The sooner you reach out to a Michigan employment lawyer, the better the chance that your issues can be resolved quickly and with as little interruption to your employment as possible.

If you are concerned about your employer's practices or were recently fired based on what you believe to be an illegal reason, do not wait to consult with a Michigan employment lawyer. Sommers Schwartz is a renowned Michigan employment law firm that exclusively represents employees. We offer free consultations to all prospective clients and can be reached at https://www.sommerspc.com.

Michigan employees have many important rights. However, employers have considerable power over workers. Few employees understand the extent of the protections they have and how to enforce their rights. This can lead to situations where workers feel powerless. A Michigan employment lawyer can help employees ensure their employers respect their rights.

As a Michigan employee, you have many rights, including:

• The right to a reasonably safe workplace.
• The right to register your concerns.
• The right to necessary personal protective equipment.
• The right to be free from illegal discrimination.
• The right to be fairly compensated for your work.
• The right to file a workplace complaint.
• The right to be free from workplace harassment.
• The right to receive an hourly minimum wage.
• The right to take leave under the Family Medical Leave Act.
• The right to organize in a union.
• The right to report your employer's illegal actions.

These are the fundamental employee rights that all workers enjoy. However, if you have an employment contract, you may have additional rights according to that agreement.

If you exercise an employment right (such as reporting your employer's illegal conduct) and your employer fires you, you may pursue a retaliation claim. A retaliation case is a separate claim against an employer that may lead to additional damages (beyond the originally claimed misconduct). 

While a worker's basic rights may be easy to understand, effectively negotiating with employers and working through workplace issues is often challenging. An experienced Michigan employment lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue them effectively. At Sommers Schwartz, our experienced and renowned employment attorneys exclusively represent employees. We offer free consultations to all prospective clients and can be reached at https://www.sommerspc.com.

Employment lawyers either charge an hourly rate for their services or take cases on a contingency basis. The type of fee arrangement an attorney uses typically depends on the kind of case.

An employment lawyer will likely charge an hourly rate if you want them to handle a discrete issue, such as reviewing an employment contract or negotiating more favorable employment conditions. In these cases, the amount of work that goes into the case is likely to be less than a case that may ultimately require the lawyer to file a lawsuit on your behalf. The hourly rate of an experienced employment lawyer can vary but tends to range between $100 and $300 per hour.

Most employment lawyers also take cases on a contingency basis. This means the lawyer will not charge you anything in advance to handle the case. If they successfully resolve the case and you recover a settlement or judgment, your attorney will take a percentage of what the court awards you, plus costs related to the litigation. Often, contingency fee agreements provide that the attorney takes between 30 to 40 percent of the amount you recover. The percentage depends on the type of the case and whether it is resolved through negotiation or requires the attorney to take the case to trial. The benefit of this type of arrangement is that you will not need to pay for the attorney's legal fees if you are not successful. Sometimes, an attorney may also agree to advance all litigation costs, meaning there is no upfront cost to bring the case.

However, because an attorney's compensation is tied to the result of the case, lawyers may not agree to take your case on a contingency basis unless they are reasonably confident in the outcome. Sometimes, an attorney may start with an hourly rate and then modify the agreement to a contingency fee arrangement if litigation seems likely. Regardless of the nature of your claim, it is crucial to discuss a lawyer's fees in advance; that way, you know what to expect.

If you are dealing with a workplace dispute or otherwise need an experienced Michigan employment lawyer's assistance, the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can help. We are a renowned Michigan employment law firm that exclusively represents employees. We offer free consultations to all prospective clients and can be reached at https://www.sommerspc.com.