Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification Practice Exam 2025 - Free SPHR Practice Questions and Study Guide

When an employer terminates an employee for a discriminatory reason, this termination is referred to as wrongful discharge. This term encompasses situations where the firing violates the principles of fairness established by laws against discrimination, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

Wrongful discharge includes any termination that contravenes established laws or public policy, including those that protect against discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. In these cases, the employer fails to adhere to the legal standards of employee treatment, leading to the determination that the termination was not just or legally defensible.

Constructive discharge refers to situations where an employee resigns due to an employer creating a hostile work environment, which is different from being terminated. A reduction in force typically pertains to layoffs for business reasons rather than discriminatory motives. Discharge without cause implies a termination that does not require justification, but it does not specifically indicate that discrimination was a factor. Thus, wrongful discharge is the most accurate classification for terminations based on discriminatory reasons.