In New York, most employment is “at will,” meaning your employer can let you go for almost any reason — or no reason at all. But that doesn’t mean all terminations are legal.

If you were fired or punished for reporting misconduct, refusing illegal activity, requesting protected leave, or asserting your rights (like unpaid wages or discrimination), you may be protected under retaliation and whistleblower laws. These laws exist to defend employees from being punished for doing the right thing.

Wrongful termination often hides behind vague justifications like “poor performance” or “restructuring.” In many cases, workers are fired after standing up for themselves — especially when raising concerns about discrimination, unpaid wages, harassment, or safety violations.

Employees in New York also have strong whistleblower protections under both state law and federal law, especially when reporting serious health, safety, or legal violations.

Your Rights Include:

• The right not to be fired or punished for reporting discrimination or harassment

• The right to report wage theft, overtime issues, or unsafe working conditions

• The right to take family or medical leave without retaliation (under FMLA and NY Paid Leave)

• The right to refuse to participate in illegal acts ordered by an employer

• The right to report violations to government agencies or regulators without fear of being fired

• The right to file complaints or lawsuits without employer interference or threats

  If any of these rights were violated when you were terminated — or if you're being treated unfairly now — you may be entitled to compensation.