Before You Work for NTI › Your options

If you are let go while sick: agencies and options (US)

General information only. I am a technician, not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. Deadlines can be short, so act quickly.

• Employment attorney. Many offer a free first consultation. Bring your contract, pay records, and timeline. They can tell you whether a termination during a medical emergency raises a claim in your state.
• US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division handles unpaid wages and overtime and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): dol.gov/agencies/whd. FMLA has eligibility rules (employer size, time on the job), so check whether it applies to you.
• EEOC handles disability discrimination complaints under the ADA: eeoc.gov. Filing deadlines are strict.
• NLRB. Non-supervisory employees generally have the right to talk with coworkers about pay and working conditions: nlrb.gov.
• Your state labor department and unemployment office. Unemployment agencies apply their own standard for why you lost your job. An employer's reason does not decide your claim, so file anyway.
• Your records. Request your personnel file and pay records in writing and keep proof you asked.

Final pay. If your PTO or last check is late, send written notice the same day and keep a copy. Remedies in contracts and state laws often depend on it.

If you were classified as an independent contractor, ask an attorney or the Department of Labor whether that classification was correct for the work you did.