The Law Offices of Richard M. Pescatore are located in both Vineland and Marlton, New Jersey. The firm has successfully achieved verdicts of one million dollars and more on behalf of its clients, together with multi-million dollar settlements.
The Law Offices of Richard M. Pescatore are located in both Vineland and Marlton, New Jersey. The firm has successfully achieved verdicts of one million dollars and more on behalf of its clients, together with multi-million dollar settlements.
New Jersey is an at-will state, so an employer can usually end a job without giving a reason. A firing is wrongful when the real reason is illegal, such as discrimination or retaliation, when it breaks a contract, or when it violates a clear mandate of public policy. Deadlines run from one year to six years.
Discrimination. The decision rests on a protected trait under the Law Against Discrimination. See discrimination.
Retaliation. You complained, reported or refused, and you were fired for it. See retaliation and CEPA.
Public policy. Under Pierce v. Ortho Pharmaceutical, an employer may not fire someone for a reason that violates a clear mandate of public policy.
Contract. You have an employment contract, or a handbook created an implied one under Woolley v. Hoffmann-La Roche.
CEPA: one year.
NJLAD: two years.
Wrongful discharge against public policy: often as short as two years.
Contract: six years.
A severance agreement usually asks you to give up your claims in exchange for money. Read it before you sign, and have a lawyer read it too. If you are 40 or older, federal law generally gives you at least 21 days to consider a release of age claims, 45 days in a group layoff, and 7 days to change your mind after signing.
Larger layoffs can also trigger New Jersey's mass layoff law. An employer with 100 or more employees that terminates 50 or more in a covered event owes 90 days' notice and severance of one week per year of employment. That severance generally cannot be waived without approval from the state or a court.
Your offer letter, any contract and the employee handbook.
The termination letter or notes on what you were told.
Your recent reviews and any write-ups.
Any severance agreement, unsigned.
A timeline of the weeks before you were let go.
Write down what you were told, by whom, and the reason given.
Save the documents you already have. Do not take anything after you lose access.
Do not sign a severance agreement yet.
Apply for unemployment benefits if you qualify.
Talk to an employment lawyer.
Can they fire me for no reason? Usually yes, unless a contract says otherwise. They cannot fire you for an illegal reason.
Is my handbook a contract? Sometimes. Under Woolley, a handbook can create enforceable promises, unless it has a clear and prominent disclaimer.
Does it matter what reason they gave? Yes. A reason that shifts or does not match your record can help show that the stated reason was not the real one.
Call (856) 507-1000 or use the contact form. The firm has offices at 1055 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360, and 2 North Maple Avenue, Marlton, NJ 08053.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and outcomes depend on the facts of each case.
Last updated November 4, 2026.