Being wrongfully terminated can cause severe emotional and financial distress on an individual and negatively impact their relationships and professional life. Wrongful termination can be described as an unlawful layoff of an employee. It infringes on an individual’s rights and comes with several hidden costs that can make life a living hell for a person. Being wrongfully terminated is a severe injustice that should never be ignored.
Instead, you must seek legal action against your employer to ensure you receive compensation and justice for their wrongdoings. However, before you seek legal action, you must understand the hidden costs of wrongful termination and use them to strengthen your case. We turned to wrongful termination lawyers to help us understand the hidden costs of wrongful termination.
The Hidden Costs of Wrongful Termination
Below are some of the common and often overlooked consequences of wrongful termination:
Financial Strain
Wrongful termination can cause significant financial strain on an individual and lead to issues like homelessness. When an individual abruptly loses their job, the event gives them no time to look for other employment options leading to them grappling with financial difficulties.
A stable monthly income empowers us to pay our bills on time and fulfill any other financial commitments like loans that we may have taken upon ourselves. Therefore, suddenly losing your job without any warning can cause you to become burned with monthly bills, mortgage payments, medical bills, etc., and feel clueless about managing them.
Furthermore, the financial impact of wrongful termination is further worsened by the fact that an individual is stripped of other benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. This causes their short-term financial needs and long-term financial security to all become foggy, causing significant stress on the individual.
Also read: The Different Types of Workplace Discrimination You Can Sue Your Employer For
Psychological Impact
Wrongful termination can cause a severe psychological impact on an individual. Being wrongfully terminated by your employer, who you confided in to offer you job security, can cause you to become emotionally scarred. Individuals who have suffered a job loss may feel several unwanted emotions, from anxiety and depression to anger and shame. The severity of these emotions can vary from person to person, with some people requiring mental health support and professional help to recover. Some tell-tale signs and symptoms of mental health conditions that may require professional help include:
- Insomnia
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty concentrating on day-to-day tasks
- Constant irritability
- Appetite changes
- Loss of interest
- Unexplained crying spells
These symptoms can signal a series of mental health conditions that may have been triggered due to the strong emotions associated with wrongful termination. A licensed mental health care provider can examine your symptoms and offer a diagnosis and treatment for your condition.
Lack of Self Esteem
Experiencing wrongful termination can cause a serious blow to your confidence and self-esteem. Individuals who have been wrongfully terminated may blame themselves for the event and question their abilities. The uncertainty of future employment opportunities can negatively impact your sense of self and personal identity. The lack of self-esteem also influences your ability to get a new job. When employers interview an individual for a role, self-confidence is a major aspect that they look for in the ideal candidate. Therefore, a lack of confidence from wrongful termination can prevent an individual from impressing potential employers.
Impact on Relationships
It can be easy to overlook the impact of wrongful termination on relationships. However, sometimes this impact can become severe and lead to issues like severed relationships and divorce. As individuals deal with the emotional damage of wrongful termination, they may become incredibly stressed and irritable. These mood changes can impact the individual’s relationships with friends, family, co-workers, and others in their circle and trigger pre-existing mental or physical health conditions.
As loved ones witness an individual’s mental health deteriorating, they may try to offer support. However, sometimes a person’s response to many negative emotions can be to shut down and become distant from the people in their lives. Such emotional responses can cause distance and frustrations in a relationship and lead to negative changes in family dynamics.
Seek Compensation for Wrongful Termination
If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, you must consult a wrongful termination lawyer to seek compensation for your losses. An experienced wrongful termination lawyer at Bourassa Law Group can help take you through the legal process of suing your employer and answer queries about ‘how can I sue my employer for wrongful termination.’
Furthermore, our wrongful termination lawyers will go above and beyond to ensure you receive the most compensation possible for being wrongfully terminated. To learn more about the process involved in suing your employer for wrongful termination, dial 1-800-870-8910 or fill out our contact form here so our lawyers can contact you immediately.
1-800-870-8910