Employees terminated by an employer have certain rights. An employee has the right to receive a final paycheck and the option of continuing health insurance coverage, and may even be eligible for severance pay and unemployment compensation benefits. There are a number of steps you can take to help protect yourself after losing your job, but it's also important to understand your rights after a job termination.

Employee Rights After a Job Termination: At Will Employment

In most cases, employment is "at will." At-will employment refers to the rights of an employer in the private industry to terminate an employee at any time and for any reason, as long as it's not illegal or contrary to an agreement. Termination, however, may be unlawful if:

• An implied contract governs the terms of the employment relationship. When determining implied agreements, courts consider whether the employer promised continued employment, whether the employer failed to abide by its employment practices regarding termination, and the length of employment.
• Firing the employee violates public policy. Examples include firing an employee for having jury duty, serving in the military, or complaining about or refusing to engage in illegal conduct.
• Termination of the employee violates laws that prohibit discrimination. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination against employees and job applicants based on race, color, age, national origin, disability, and religion.
• The termination of the employee was in retaliation for a specific act that's protected by law. An employer cannot fire an employee for reporting certain unlawful activities. For example, an employer may not terminate an employee for reporting sexual harassment, discrimination, or a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

Employee Rights After a Job Termination: Final Paycheck

Many states have laws that dictate when the employer must give an employee their final paycheck. In general, the employee's rights to receive a final paycheck depend on whether the employee quit or whether the employer fired the employee. In Connecticut, for instance, the employer must issue a final paycheck by the next business day after firing the employee and by the next payday if the employee quit.

Other states have stricter laws. For example, in California, the law requires the employer to pay the employee immediately if the employee was fired or if the employee quit after giving at least 72 hours notice. If the employee failed to give notice, the employer has 72 hours to issue a final paycheck. These laws may be inapplicable if a contractual agreement between an employer and an employee states otherwise.

Employee Rights After a Job Termination: Severance Pay

A severance agreement is a contractual agreement between an employer and an employee. The agreement typically entails the following terms: the employer will provide the terminated employee with a severance package in exchange for the employee's promise not to sue the employer. In addition to a lump sum payment, a severance package may include health insurance, continuing payments for a number of years, and the services of an outplacement program.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn't require employers to offer severance packages to terminated employees. Consequently, whether an employer offers severance often depends on the agreement between the employer and the employee. An employee may have rights to a severance package if:

• The terms of a written contract provide for severance pay;
• An employee handbook documents the employer's policy on severance pay;
• The employer has a history of offering severance pay to other employees in the same position; or
• The employer made an oral promise to offer severance pay.

Although not required by law, many companies do offer severance pay. In general, the amount the former employee receives depends on the length of employment and the reason for the termination. For example, some companies may offer two weeks pay for each year employed.

Employee Rights After a Job Termination: Health Coverage

Terminated employees have the right to health insurance coverage after separation from their employer. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1986, grants terminated employees and their families the right to continued healthcare coverage for a limited period. Under the law, an employer with 20 or more employees must offer the option of continued participation in the employer's health insurance plan.

It's the responsibility of the former employee to pay the full cost of coverage. In general, the employee will pay up to 102 percent of the plan's cost. However, a worker that was terminated involuntarily between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 may qualify for a 65 percent subsidy for the cost of the health premiums.

Employee Rights After a Job Termination: Unemployment Compensation

A terminated employee may be able to replace some lost income by receiving unemployment compensation. If qualified, the unemployed worker may receive compensation while searching for employment. Generally, unemployment compensation is less than the employee's regular pay since the calculation is based on a percentage of the employee's pay during a certain time. An unemployed worker can receive benefits for 26 weeks, and if qualified, the worker may receive up to an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Protect Your Rights After a Job Termination: Call an Attorney

Losing a job is often stressful and sometimes humiliating, but you should know that you always have certain rights regardless of the reason for termination. If you believe your rights have been violated in any way following the loss of a job, you may want to explore your legal options. Get started today by reaching out to an employment law attorney near you.