People are injured in car accidents every day in Orlando. As a result, many of these people have to miss a lot of work because of their injuries. Therefore, our clients often as us if they can be fired in Florida because of the complications associated with getting into a serious car accident.
Here is the situation. Let’s say you’re driving through Orlando, and another car runs a stop sign and smashes into the side of your vehicle. You have obvious property damage, but you also have serious injuries as a result of the car accident. Now, you have to go to multiple doctor visits, and you end up missing multiple days at work. The accident was not your fault, and you’re a victim in this situation. However, can your boss still fire you?
Florida is an At-Will Employment State
The short answer is yes, you can be fired. Florida is an at-will employment state. Therefore, the employer and the employee have the freedom to do what they want, within reason. This means that you can leave your job if you would rather work somewhere else. However, this also means that your employer can terminate you without giving you a reason.
An Employer Cannot Fire You for An Improper Reason
Employers are not permitted to fire an employee for discriminatory reasons. In other words, an employer is not only governed by Florida law, but that employer is also governed by federal laws, such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Thus, an employee may be protected by anti-discrimination laws if that employee can show that he or she was fired for an improper or discriminatory reason.
