Been at this company for 4 months as a data engineer. When I started their codebase was a mess. All the code was in one folder with subfolders, the scripts were dependent on one another even if they didn’t share the domain problem, their version control was “call the IT guy to grab the backup”. In the first few months I set up a Github organization for them, put all their code into a git repo to start version control, got them to install and use IDEs instead of just VS Code, refactored some of the codebase to use SOLID standards, automated some tasks, transitioned them to a new Snowflake warehouse, and fixed several issues that was breaking their workflow. Today the CEO told me that this is an at-will state and he let me go. Didn’t explain why, just asked for the equipment back.
I didn’t get any write-ups, no one complained about my work, I was always looking for improvements, even the CEO thanked me a couple months ago for writing a word document to my managers on how I think the team can make improvements. They actually followed that doc and have been happy with it. This came from nowhere because no one brought any complaints. Today I am lost. I just need to vent and let this out.
Any employer anywhere can fire you for a legal reason. Employers in at-will states can fire employees for no reason. In fact, that is the main practical distinction of at-will states in this regard, it’s what “at will” means.
Even in an at-will state, an employer can still not fire you for an explicitly illegal reason, but unless they are stupid enough to tell you (it happens), good luck proving that it was for an illegal reason.
@OP, sure contact an employment lawyer, but ask if they provide a first consultation for free. I would not actually pay for a lawyer if I were you unless I were much more certain that there is a chance of success.
I won’t be contacting an attorney because I don’t think I have a case. They would not give a reason why I was let go, only that we have to go our separate ways and the people I can contact within the organization cannot get answers from them.
It kind of sounds like they just used you until they didn’t think they needed you anymore, which is unfortunate. I hope you find a better place to go.
Thanks for more clarifying info.