Washington, D.C. follows at-will employment. That means most private employers can end a job at any time, with or without a stated reason. The District also has some of the broadest worker protections in the country, and they take certain reasons off the table entirely. A wrongful termination attorney DC employees consult will check a firing against these laws first. Below are five D.C.-area firms that handle employment matters, followed by twelve reasons an employer cannot lawfully use to fire you.
Which D.C.-area law firms handle illegal firing claims?
- The Mundaca Law Firm
- Eric Siegel Law
- The Spiggle Law Firm
- The Erlich Law Office
- Freedman Law, LLC
1. The Mundaca Law Firm: Wrongful Termination Attorney DC
The Mundaca Law Firm represents employees throughout Washington, D.C. who believe they were fired for a prohibited reason. Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner, leads the firm. Its D.C. practice covers wrongful termination, retaliation, D.C. Human Rights Act discrimination, pregnancy and disability claims, federal sector employment, and severance agreement review. The firm can match the facts of a firing to the law that protects you. It can also file charges with the EEOC or the D.C. Office of Human Rights, negotiate with the employer, and litigate when needed.
2. Eric Siegel Law
Eric Siegel Law is a law firm based in downtown Washington, D.C. whose practice includes employment matters.
3. The Spiggle Law Firm
The Spiggle Law Firm is a law firm in Alexandria, Virginia that handles employment law matters.
4. The Erlich Law Office
The Erlich Law Office is a law firm in Arlington, Virginia whose work includes employment cases.
5. Freedman Law, LLC
Freedman Law, LLC is a law firm with offices in Rockville, Maryland and McLean, Virginia that handles employment-related cases.
What reasons are illegal for firing someone in D.C.?
1. Can you be fired because of your race, religion, or national origin?
No. The D.C. Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act both prohibit it. The D.C. law applies to employers with even one employee.
2. Is it legal to fire someone for being too old or too young?
No. Federal age protection starts at 40. The D.C. The Human Rights Act protects workers from age 18, so age-based firings of younger employees can also be illegal in the District.
3. Can an employer fire you for a disability or for requesting accommodation?
No. Both D.C. law and the Americans with Disabilities Act protect qualified employees with disabilities and bar retaliation for requesting a reasonable accommodation.
4. Can you be fired for being pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The D.C. Human Rights Act treats pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding as sex discrimination. The federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, effective June 2023, adds accommodation rights.
5. Are sexual orientation and gender identity protected?
Yes. D.C. law covers sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County extended similar protection under federal law.
6. Can your appearance or politics cost you your job?
Not legally in D.C. The Human Rights Act protects personal appearance, including grooming and dress, subject to reasonable business requirements. It also protects political affiliation.
7. Can caregiving responsibilities be held against you?
No. D.C. law protects family responsibilities, meaning the duty to care for a child, parent, spouse, or other dependent.
8. Can you be fired for reporting harassment or discrimination?
No. Retaliation for a good-faith complaint, or for participating in an investigation, is illegal under both District and federal law.
9. Can you be fired for discussing your pay?
No. D.C.’s Wage Transparency Act protects employees who ask about, discuss, or disclose wages. Complaints about unpaid wages are protected under the D.C. Wage Payment and Collection Law.
10. Is it legal to fire someone for taking protected leave?
No. The D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act covers employers with 20 or more employees. The D.C. Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act protects employees who use earned sick time.
11. Can you be fired for a workers’ comp claim or jury service?
No. District law prohibits terminating employees for filing a workers’ compensation claim or for serving on a jury.
12. Can you be fired for refusing to break the law?
No. D.C. courts have recognized this public policy exception since Adams v. George W. Cochran & Co. (1991).
When should you talk to a wrongful termination attorney in DC?
If your firing lines up with any of these protections, the stated reason may not be the real one. Deadlines are short. D.C. Office of Human Rights complaints generally must be filed within one year, and EEOC charges within 300 days. Save your reviews, emails, and termination paperwork, and do not sign a severance release until you understand what it waives. A wrongful termination attorney DC workers can consult can review your situation and explain your options.