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How Much Can a Wrongful Termination Suit Cost an Employer?
How Much Can a Wrongful Termination Suit Cost an Employer?
Unlawful termination can be among the most costly mistakes an employer makes
Employment lawsuits are expensive and wrongful termination lawsuits can be among the most damaging and difficult to defend. A wrongful termination lawsuit can cost a company anywhere from $1,000 to millions and can include compensation for:
- lost pay
- lost benefits
- emotional distress
- punitive damages
- legal fees
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What's the Cost of a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit?
Regarding some of the costs employers can expect to pay for wrongfully terminating an employee, Meridith Levinson writes:
Rebecca Heyman, a human capital consultant with HR outsourcing company TriNet, notes that filing a discrimination claim with a local EEOC agency as part of a wrongful termination claim costs nothing for an employee, but causes significant disruption to the employer's business. "The employer has to respond to the employee's allegations. They often have to work with an attorney to prepare a response to the claim. That can be costly," she says.
How costly? Mimi Moore, a partner in the labor and employment practice with Bryan Cave LLP, says that each legal claim an employee brings against an employer in court could cost the company between $50,000 and $250,000 in legal fees and potential settlement payouts.
RELATED: How to Fire Someone Without Getting Sued
Avoid These Termination Mistakes
Some of the most common mistakes managers make when firing employees are:
- not planning the termination meeting properly
- beginning the termination conversation with compliments to soften the blow
- being dishonest about the real reason for the termination
- not treating the terminated employee with respect and dignity
- not keeping the termination details confidential
These mistakes can result in lawsuits that affect the bottom line in more ways than the accompanying fines and settlements. A blow to a company's reputation is sometimes more expensive than the cost of a lawsuit. Bad publicity can affect revenue directly through decreased sales, make it harder to find good employees, and can cause a publicly traded company to lose share value.
RELATED: How to Fire Someone Ethically: A Guide for HR Professionals