It can be difficult to determine whether you have been treated differently because of a legal or illegal reason. That is because uncovering discrimination often depends on a person’s state of mind. The law addresses this problem in several ways.

First of all, it is important to realize that it is not illegal for an employer to be mean, inconsiderate, or illogical in the treatment of its employees. For example, if a company fires an employee without any good reason, or under a false belief that the employee failed to perform well, that is not illegal by itself.

Your rights as an employee are determined by contract and by law. Most employees are so-called “at-will,” meaning that you are free to leave your employment at anytime and your employer is free to terminate or make changes to your employment at any time, as long as such changes are effective prospectively (i.e. in the future) only.

Your rights as an employee are determined by contract and by law. Most employees are so-called “at-will,” …