You have been with the same company for a long time; suddenly, you are fired through no fault of your own. You have suffered sexual harassment and discrimination, but you’re terminated when you complain. You are forced to resign, but you’re denied unemployment insurance benefits once you leave. After being laid off, you receive an unfavorable job reference. What can you do about it? Plenty, according to attorney Steven Sack!
Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer” and the author of “The Employee Rights Handbook,” has released his 20th book titled, “FIRED! Protect Your Rights & Fight Back If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit.” The book is a unique legal guide that provides essential information workers need to adequately protect themselves before, during, and after their jobs have ended. Mr. Sack explains how employees can anticipate and avoid uncomfortable situations when they know they are about to be laid off, wish to resign, or want to negotiate and receive a better severance package with health insurance and other benefits.
The book is divided into three parts to help readers better understand their situation and how to improve it:
- “Determining When You Are Being Treated Unlawfully” covers discrimination based on age, sex, pregnancy, disability, race, religion, and retaliation. It discusses exceptions to the at-will doctrine, including whistleblowing, attending jury duty, being separated due to a massive layoff, or being fired in violation of a promise or company rule.
- “Negotiating The Best Severance Package After You’re Fired” provides tips on recognizing the signs you will be fired, taking charge of your career, getting the best package, confirming the deal in writing, and taking practical steps to protect your rights.
- “Fighting Back” explains how to resign from a job if you must properly maximize unemployment benefits and protect your job references.
In addition, there are chapters on defamation lawsuits dealing with restrictive covenants, trade secrets, gag orders, and other post-termination restrictions, plus advice on employment litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Mr. Sack also provides guidance on hiring and working effectively with a lawyer to improve the chances of success.
FIRED! also features many tools to help you if you are terminated, including a glossary, index, legal forms, letters to send, and agreements to help protect your rights.
“A job is like a romance,” Mr. Sack says. “Employers woo applicants with promises of riches, security, and fulfillment, then often dump them when the honeymoon is over. Many don’t receive promised benefits such as year-end bonuses, commissions, health insurance, overtime, and severance pay. Others are fired without cause through no fault of their own. However, most workers have more rights than they think. Remember: every firing is negotiable.”
The book is available in hardcover for $34.99 plus $5.01 for priority mail, shipping, and handling through the publisher, Legal Strategies Publications (www.legalstratpub.com). The $24.99 softcover and the $19.99 eBook can be purchased at local bookstores and distributors, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
