Free Consultation
The office is open as per the NYS Covid-19 guidelines. We are now doing both in-person and telephone consultations. Please call the office at 718-855-6840 to schedule a time to speak with one of our experienced bankruptcy attorneys.

Can my employer fire me for filing for bankruptcy?

Can my employer fire me for filing for bankruptcy?  Can my employer fire me based on my race?

No and no.  You can’t be fired based on your race.  And you can’t be fired just because you’ve filed for bankruptcy.  The bankruptcy laws specifically prohibit firing an employee because of a bankruptcy filing.

Many people aren’t aware of it, but Section 525(b) of the Bankruptcy Code specifically states that

“No private employer may terminate the employment of, or discriminate with respect to employment against, an individual who is or has been a debtor under this title, a debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Act, or an individual associated with such debtor or bankrupt.”

That said, employment in New York is “at will.”  That means that an employer can terminate an employee for any reason, good or bad, or no reason at all.  But it prohibits an employer from terminating an employee if the the employee is in certain protected classes.  Race is one of the more well-known protected classes.  And bankruptcy is another one.

Additionally, the protection doesn’t apply just to people who have actually filed for bankruptcy.  It also protects you if you’re “insolvent” prior to filing.  Or for the period while your bankruptcy petition is pending.  Or even if there’s just a dischargeable debt that you haven’t paid.

If you’re contemplating a bankruptcy filing in New York and have questions about employment and other important topics, please contact me for a free initial consultation.  Bankruptcy is intended to help American citizens get a fresh start.  And with an experienced New York bankruptcy lawyer on your side who can walk you through the process, you don’t need to be intimidated.

Contact Bruce Weiner, Esq.

EMAIL Bruce Weiner
Phone
(718) 855-6840 (Local)
(866) 402-8476 (Toll Free)
Fax (718) 625-1966

Go to Brooklyn Bankruptcy Law Firm to learn more about Rosenberg Musso & Weiner LLP and/or to set up a free consultation.

Rosenberg, Musso & Weiner, L.L.P
26 Court St # 2211
Brooklyn, NY 11242, USA
718-855-6840
http://nybankruptcy.net/

Recent Posts

Beware Grace Periods, Debtors

Too often, debtors see grace periods offered by lenders as free benefits. “Grace” makes it sound so innocent. However, debtors who routinely rely on grace periods when making payments will find themselves facing financial difficulties that might lead to bankruptcy. The reason is that although creditors offer grace periods to debtors, they also use them

Read More »

Bankruptcy May Not Rescue You From Vicious Personal Disputes

Bankruptcy is a technical process that assumes everyone working within it is mostly rational. To the extent that it expects parties to deviate from irrational behavior, the Bankruptcy Code and its accompanying rules include incentives to keep parties in line. Creditors are usually large and impersonal, and they rarely care if their debtors file bankruptcy.

Read More »

Non-Lawyers’ Explanations of Bankruptcy May Be Wrong

Do you have financial problems? Do you tend to ask your friends for advice? Is one of your friends an experienced New York bankruptcy lawyer who will explain the process for you? Are your friends otherwise knowledgeable people? The answer to these questions may be, “Yes but you don’t know it.” Although many bankruptcy lawyers

Read More »

6 Steps to Take Before Filing Bankruptcy

Leaving your case to an experienced New York bankruptcy lawyer is not the only step on the to-do list before filing bankruptcy. There are many things debtors should do (and not do) before they file, and the more organized and mindful debtors are, the easier the process will be and the more effective the result.

Read More »

Social Security Number Not Necessary for Bankruptcy

A question that’s commonly asked about New York bankruptcy is whether a debtor needs a Social Security number to file. Debtors ask because they sometimes run across the bankruptcy form title, “Your Statement About Your Social Security Numbers” (B 121), which asks debtors to list their current and prior Social Security numbers. The new bankruptcy

Read More »

How Can a Debtor (or Creditor) Get a New Trustee?

The trustee in a New York bankruptcy case is usually not the debtor’s ally. His or her purpose is mainly to administer the bankruptcy estate or ensure the debtor’s repayment plan goes according to plan. Trustees pursue preference payments, fraudulent conveyances, and other malfeasance committed by debtors. They frequently initiate adversary proceedings against debtors. In

Read More »
Scroll to Top