Domestic violence is a serious issue that many people in Florida struggle with every single day. Victims of domestic abuse may be afraid to speak out or ask for help because they are afraid their abuser will get angry and make their life even worse. An abuser can haunt many different areas of someone’s life, including their place of employment. This may lead to wrongful termination.
According to a 2006 report, domestic violence has consequences that reach into the workplace; approximately 50 percent of all victims lose employment because of the violence in their lives. A Catholic school teacher and domestic violence victim is now living this reality; she was terminated from her position at the school because her abuser and former spouse showed up at the school. In addition to being fired, the woman’s four children have been asked never to return to the school.
This woman did everything she could to protect herself in a bad situation. She even had a restraining order on her husband that he ignored when he came to the school. An employee from the school’s human resources department told the woman she was being fired because the school needed to keep the other students, faculty, and parents at the school safe.
If you feel that you have been unfairly let go from your place of business, it is important that you become informed of your legal rights. You may want to consider employment litigation. A lawyer may be of assistance in this area.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Carie Charlesworth, Teacher, Fired After Being Abused,” Simon McCormack, June 13, 2013
