Lost Your Job Unfairly? A Washington Wrongful Termination Lawyer Can Help

It happens far too often: Someone reports sexual harassment, gets treated like an outsider because of who they are, requests medical leave, or simply refuses to do something shady. Next thing they know? They’re booted — without so much as a fair warning.

Here at Punchwork Law, we hear stories like this every single day. And frankly? It pisses us off. Employers don’t just get to play fast and loose with people’s livelihoods.

Getting fired without good reason isn’t just messed up. It’s illegal in many cases, and Washington law calls it wrongful termination. If you’re in the same boat, you have rights, and our attorneys have the resources to back you up.

Reach out today for a free consultation with a Washington wrongful termination attorney and set the record straight. Let’s make sure your old boss doesn’t get away with it.

What Counts As Wrongful Termination in Washington?

Like the majority of US states, Washington is an “at-will” employment state. That means you’re free to quit at any time. It also means your boss can fire you for almost any reason, or for no reason at all. But, there’s a catch: They can’t fire you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination, retaliation for exercising legal rights, or other violations of law or public policy.

Your firing may be illegal if it happened because you:

Reported workplace harassment or discrimination
Blew the whistle on unsafe working conditions or wage theft
Filed a workers’ comp claim after getting hurt
Asked for reasonable disability accommodations
Took protected leave (like under the Family and Medical Leave Act or Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program)
Refused to do something illegal
Belong to a protected group (race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, etc.)
Exercised a protected right (jury duty, voting, and more)

If any of this rings true to your experience, it’s time to talk with a Washington wrongful termination lawyer.

What Doesn’t Count As Wrongful Termination?

Navigating wrongful termination can be tricky, especially because not every firing is illegal. If you were let go for poor performance, being chronically late, breaking company policies, or bullying your coworkers, that’s likely fair game. If your boss gave no reason at all, that’s completely legal, too (as long as they’re not covering up discrimination or retaliation).

Wrongful termination cases are about illegal motives, not just bad vibes. Still, if your firing felt seriously shady, it’s worth checking out. Our team will shoot straight with you: If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you. And if you do? We’ll fight like hell to prove it, hold your former employer accountable, and get the justice you deserve.

Note: In Washington, you have the right to request a signed written statement from the business explaining why they discharged you and the effective date. While not all firings come with a cause, this can help you document the situation and potentially reveal an unlawful motive if the stated reason is clearly a pretext.

Washington Wrongful Termination Law: What You Should Know

There isn’t one major “wrongful termination” law in Washington. Instead, several state and federal laws work together to protect employees from being unfairly dismissed. Here are some of the key ones:

Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD)

The WLAD protects employees from being fired based on their race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, national origin, marital status, and more. This law is often broader than federal protections, applies to businesses with 8+ employees, and shields employees from retaliation (even if their complaint is never proven).

Washington Industrial Health and Safety Act (WISHA)

WISHA is all about workplace safety. If you call out unsafe machinery, toxic exposure, lack of personal protective equipment, failure to correct hazards post-inspection, or shady shortcuts that put the health and safety of people at risk, your boss can’t legally fire you for speaking up.

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

Washington’s PFML program lets you take paid time off (up to a maximum of 16 weeks) to care for a new child, recover from a serious illness, or support a family member in need. Your employer can’t punish you for using it — not with a firing, a demotion, or cutting your hours. If they try, they could face legal penalties, and you may be entitled to damages or job reinstatement.

Whistleblower Protections

You can’t be fired or punished for reporting illegal, unsafe, or unethical practices happening at your job site. That includes wage violations, workplace hazards, and workers’ comp claims.

Federal Laws

On top of state protections, federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) offer layers of defense against wrongful firing. These laws guarantee job-protected leave, disability accommodations, and prohibit firings based on race, sex, religion, age (40+), and other protected characteristics (plus retaliation for asserting those rights).

To learn more about your employee rights, visit our Washington Employment Law page.

How To Pursue a Wrongful Termination Claim in Washington State

Here’s the deal: In Washington, it’s not enough to just say your firing felt unfair. You’ve got to prove that whatever happened broke the law. And when your boss tries to hide behind a made-up “business reason”? We know how to cut through that.

Winning against your employer takes proof, strategy, and a legal team that knows how to punch back. Make a strong case, and you could walk away with lost wages, get reinstated, or even land the job advancement they tried to shut down.

So, what happens if you want to take action? Here’s the usual playbook:

1. Talk to Us

Start with a free consultation. Tell us what happened and how it made you feel. We’ll ask the right questions to figure out if your firing was illegal and what your options are moving forward. Just try not to wait too long. Missing a deadline could hurt your claim.

2. File a Charge or Complaint With a Government Agency

Many cases start with filing a charge through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) if discrimination is involved. Other cases might involve OSHA (for safety issues) or direct lawsuits.

3. Agency Investigation & Right to Sue

Once you file, the agency investigates and may initially try mediation. If things can’t be resolved, you’ll receive a “Right to Sue” letter, which is your green light to head to the courtroom with compiled evidence.

Filed a claim through the EEOC? They’ll send your employer a notice within 10 days and may ask you for more information about what went down. While the EEOC typically takes around 10 months to investigate a charge, it aims to resolve investigations within 180 days. Plus, our legal team knows how to fast-track and protect your case.

4. File a Lawsuit

With our Washington wrongful termination law firm in your corner, you’ll get help drafting your complaint, gathering compelling evidence (emails, texts, witness statements, patterns of retaliation), and going toe-to-toe with your employer’s legal team.

This is the stage where everything gets dragged into the light. And if the evidence stacks up in your favor, don’t be surprised when your former employer suddenly wants to talk settlement.

But whether they cave early or dig in further for a fight, we’re not backing off. We’ll keep swinging until you get the outcome you deserve.

5. Get a Resolution

Most cases settle, often with back pay, reinstatement, or damages for what you lost. If not, we’ll take it to trial and show a judge or jury exactly what your employer did wrong.

We don’t just punch back. We take back what you never should have lost.

Check out our Washington EEOC Lawyer page to get help filing a wrongful termination claim with the EEOC.

Why Hire a Washington Wrongful Termination Attorney from Punchwork Law?

Look, you can technically try to go this alone, but we don’t recommend it. Employers hire lawyers to protect themselves, and that legal team’s main job is to bury your case.

Our job? To make sure that doesn’t happen. Besides, hunting for the right lawyer shouldn’t feel like another full-time job. You’ve already been through the stress of losing yours. And dropping thousands in legal fees right after being wrongfully fired? That’s not happening.

At Punchwork Law, we offer free consultations to new clients. And in most cases, we work on a contingency fee, meaning we don’t get paid unless you win.

By working with our firm, you gain a dedicated team that:

Knows Washington wrongful termination law inside and out (along with how federal laws may apply to your case)
Navigates the EEOC and WSHRC process like pros
Has fought and won wrongful termination cases across multiple industries
Has handled both settlements and lawsuits (because either could happen)
Talks like real people (we won’t bore or confuse you with legalese)
Cares about your case like it’s our own

And that’s a Punchwork promise. Our lawyers don’t play games. We’re genuine, relentless about results, and punch back hard for the things that matter. When it comes to employers who think they can fire you without a fight, we live to prove them wrong.

Facing other issues at work that you think might be illegal? A Washington Discrimination Lawyer can help you figure out your next move.

Your Case, Our Fight: Let’s Punch Back Together

Getting fired unfairly is a total gut punch. But you don’t have to take it with your head down. At Punchwork Law, we turn that anger into action. We know the laws, we know the tactics employers use, and we know how to hit back until the other side is forced to make it right.

Our attorneys can help you build the strongest case possible and handle all the stressful legal steps. All that’s left for you is to take the first swing: Call us, and we’ll do the rest.

Your story matters. Your rights matter. And we’ll prove it in court.

Contact our team today and let’s show your employer what justice looks like.

Schedule Your Free Strategy Session

Have a quick question? Call or Text us!

FAQs

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

Losing your job out of the blue feels like getting blindsided. And in Washington (an at-will state), it’s not always easy to tell if that firing was just harsh or completely unlawful. The line isn’t always clear, but we are. Here are straight-up answers to the questions most people ask us first:

How do I know if I was wrongfully terminated?

Ask yourself: Did I get fired right after reporting something illegal? Did I recently ask for medical leave or accommodations? Am I part of a protected group? If the timing or reasoning feels off, it’s worth talking to us.
What kind of proof do I need?

Evidence helps: emails, texts, suspicious timing, inconsistent explanations, witness accounts, etc. But don’t stress too much. Gathering proof is part of what we do.
How long do I have to file a claim?

Deadlines matter. For EEOC or WSHRC complaints, you usually have between 180 and 300 days from the date of your firing, depending on the claim. Don’t stall: Missing a deadline could tank your case.
What if my employer called it a layoff?

Employers sometimes hide wrongful terminations behind “layoffs.” If the reasoning doesn’t add up or you sense something shady going on behind the scenes, we’ll help you dig deeper and expose the truth.