Q: Is it legal for my father to fire me?
I workcfor my father. Every time something happens in the company he threatens my job. If he doesn't have enough to pay me I would ask when I would be paid. He would get angry and say he will fire me if I keep asking. Or if something happened in the family that isn't work related he would threaten me by saying I will lose my job. Is this legal? If not what can I do? He is always trying to keep work over my head. I can't speak about anything or he will cut my hours.
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A:
It can be very stressful to work for a family member, especially when job security is constantly threatened. Legally, whether your father can fire you depends on the employment laws in your area and the nature of your employment agreement. In many places, employment is "at-will," meaning either party can terminate the job at any time without cause, unless there is a contract that states otherwise.
However, even in at-will employment, it is illegal for an employer to terminate someone for discriminatory reasons or in retaliation for exercising certain legal rights, such as asking about your pay. If your father is threatening to fire you for personal or family-related issues that are not related to your job performance, this could potentially be considered unfair or abusive treatment.
You have a few options to address this situation. First, try to have a calm and open conversation with your father about your concerns and the impact his threats have on you. If this doesn't help, you might want to document these incidents and seek advice from an employment attorney to understand your rights and explore potential legal actions. Additionally, considering other employment opportunities outside the family business might provide a more stable and supportive work environment.
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