shadowboxer87's journey

I was let go from my job in 2023, and now, in 2026, I'm reflecting on that experience and considering whether I might have had grounds for a lawsuit. A conversation with a friend who recently got fired brought back some memories and feelings from my own termination. I worked at a small nonprofit trade organization in the maritime industry as part of the marketing team. The environment was toxic, and I often felt overwhelmed, doing the work of multiple people. When I was fired, it was framed as a performance issue, but I never received any written warnings or verbal indications that I was in trouble. The only document I was presented with was a severance agreement that seemed designed to protect the company from legal action, offering me $1,500—equivalent to my bi-weekly pay—if I signed it. They let me go on payday, and although I had received my paycheck that morning, I never got paid for the days I worked after that. Looking back, I feel like my final paycheck was withheld as leverage to get me to sign that document. Now, I'm questioning whether I could have pursued a lawsuit for unpaid wages and the way my termination was handled. I'm not looking for legal advice, just sharing my thoughts and wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.