What Are My Rights at Termination?

Important Employee Rights When Fired or Laid Off

If you have been fired or laid off, there are certain things your employer must do. These are:

Payment of all wages earned as of the day of termination.
Payment of any unused, accrued vacation time.
Providing information about applying for unemployment.
If you participate in a group health plan, providing information about opting in for continued coverage (at your expense) under COBRA.

The employer is not required to give you a reason for termination, or provide any particular paperwork documenting the termination, though many do. They are also not required to provide a severance package.

You have a right, even after termination, to a copy of your personnel file by any form of written request to the company (an email is sufficient). If you decide to consult an employment lawyer about your termination, the personnel file will help them assess whether there was anything unlawful about it.

Learn more here about your rights at dismissal in Massachusetts.