Wrongful Termination in Tennessee
Wrongful termination protections in Tennessee
Tennessee's codified public policy exception (Public Protection Act) provides clearer grounds for wrongful termination claims than many states that rely solely on common law.
Discrimination protections
| State anti-discrimination law? | Yes |
|---|---|
| State enforcement agency | Tennessee Human Rights Commission |
Filing deadlines and statute of limitations
| Discrimination claim deadline | 300 days |
|---|---|
| Details | 300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims must be filed with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission within 1 year. |
Whistleblower and retaliation protections
| Whistleblower protection? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Details | Tennessee Public Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 50-1-304) provides broad protections, including protection for employees who refuse to participate in illegal activities. |
At-will exceptions recognized
| Public policy exception | Yes |
|---|---|
| Implied contract exception | Yes |
Additional state protections
Tennessee Human Rights Act covers employers with 8+ employees. The Public Protection Act codifies a broad public policy exception.
Typical settlement ranges
$10,000 to $125,000 for typical cases.
Settlement amounts vary based on the specifics of each case. These ranges are general estimates, not predictions. Consult an employment attorney for guidance on your situation.
Key statutes
Tenn. Code Ann. SS 4-21-101 et seq. (Tennessee Human Rights Act); SS 50-1-304 (Public Protection Act)
Wrongful Termination in Tennessee: what you need to know
Wrongful termination in Tennessee occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. While most employment in Tennessee is at-will (meaning either party can end the relationship at any time), there are important exceptions. Tennessee's codified public policy exception (Public Protection Act) provides clearer grounds for wrongful termination claims than many states that rely solely on common law. Understanding what qualifies as wrongful termination is important because not every unfair firing is illegal, but many workers have more protections than they realize.
Tennessee has a state anti-discrimination law that generally mirrors federal protections. This means you can pursue a wrongful termination claim based on discrimination through the state agency (Tennessee Human Rights Commission) in addition to or instead of the federal EEOC. Having both options can give you more flexibility in how you pursue your claim.
Tennessee provides whistleblower protections for employees who report illegal activity or safety violations. Tennessee Public Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 50-1-304) provides broad protections, including protection for employees who refuse to participate in illegal activities. If you were fired for reporting wrongdoing by your employer, you may have a wrongful termination claim based on whistleblower retaliation. These protections are critical because they encourage workers to speak up about illegal or dangerous practices without fear of losing their jobs.
The statute of limitations for wrongful termination claims in Tennessee varies depending on the type of claim. 300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims must be filed with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission within 1 year. Acting quickly is important because missing a filing deadline can permanently bar your claim, even if the termination was clearly illegal. If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, consult an employment attorney as soon as possible to understand your deadlines.
If you believe you were wrongfully terminated in Tennessee, the most important step is to document everything. Save any emails, text messages, or written communications related to the termination. Write down what happened while the details are fresh in your memory, including the date, who was present, and what was said. Note any witnesses who can corroborate your account. This documentation can be critical to your case.
More Tennessee workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Tennessee:
Frequently asked questions about wrongful termination in Tennessee
Wrongful termination occurs when your employer fires you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination based on a protected characteristic, retaliation for exercising a legal right (like filing a workers' comp claim), or violating a specific state protection.
300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims must be filed with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission within 1 year.
Yes. Tennessee has whistleblower protection laws. Tennessee Public Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 50-1-304) provides broad protections, including protection for employees who refuse to participate in illegal activities.
Being fired without a stated reason is not automatically wrongful termination. In an at-will state, your employer does not have to give a reason. However, if the real reason for your termination was illegal (discrimination, retaliation, etc.), you may still have a claim even if no reason was officially given.
Document everything: save communications, write down what happened, and identify witnesses. File a complaint with Tennessee Human Rights Commission or the federal EEOC. Consult an employment attorney as soon as possible, as filing deadlines can be short.