Rochester, NY asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for New York

Q: Layoff from small business questions

I live in NYS but worked for a small, company based in CA for the past 2.5 years. I was suddenly laid off, along with another woman (we make up 66% of the female workforce at this company) with no notice, under the guise that they were running out of money. I was also told, that they thought I might enjoy having the summer home with my kids. We were let go the same day, given our final checks but offered no severance. Is this worth pursuing further legally?

2 Lawyer Answers
V. Jonas Urba
V. Jonas Urba
Answered
  • Employment Law Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: Maybe?

Are they really running out of money? What will your damages possibly be? How will you collect?

Much depends on what you did how much you made and in what industry.

Call some lawyers who limit practices to employment law. Most of us will discuss with you no charge.

If you possibly can recover we know you will retain counsel because nowadays few employer's pay any severance and getting something decent is not that easy.

Barry E. Janay agrees with this answer

1 user found this answer helpful

Michael Diederich Jr.
Michael Diederich Jr. pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Employment Law Lawyer
  • Stony Point, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: It is unclear where you worked from your question. If there were more than 15 full-time employees, federal law (Title VII) may provide protection if the layoff was motivated by gender discrimination. I recommend you discuss this with an employment lawyer who represents workers. Most of us will, at a minimum, discuss the matter with you over the phone. Mike D

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.