Legal Question in Employment Law in District of Columbia

worked with a family business 11 years, key holder for store, party atmosphere was created around high end luxury items. family and myself grew close professionally and personally.I was released from my position and company after re entering store after closing. this was not the first time doing such. never given a warning, review or opportunity to even be on probation. just released. can they do this without any recourse? in addition, there were never any clock in/out ie wage/hour rules into play.


Asked on 10/27/11, 1:01 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Torrance Colvin The Colvin Law Firm

DC is an employee-at-will jurisdiction. You can be fired for good reasons, bad reasons, or no reason at all, so long as the termination isn't violative of the law (whistle blower, discrimination, public policy exceptions, etc.).

Your situation sounds as if they believe that there was theft going on. Unless you have an employment agreement or there was an understanding concerning acceptable behavior, it doesn't sound like you have much of a case.

As for the other issue concerning a potential wage hour claim, that is more straight forward. You are entitled to be paid for all hours you worked if you were an hourly employee. If you worked overtime, you are entitled to time and a half. If you kept track of your hours and the hours worked didn't correlate to the paychecks received then you may have a claim.

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Answered on 10/29/11, 2:13 pm


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