C. Fired for Voting or Serving on Jury Duty

Many federal and state statutes restrict an employer's freedom to discharge employees. For example, the Consumer Credit Protection Act forbids employers from firing workers whose earnings have been subjected to a wage garnishment arising from a single debt. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) prohibits the discharge of any employee who is prevented thereby from attaining immediate vested pension rights or who was exercising rights under ERISA and was fired as a result. The Jury System Improvements Act forbids employers from firing employees who are empaneled to serve on federal grand juries or petit juries. A number of states have enacted similar laws. Additionally, the Federal Railroad Safety Act prohibits companies from firing workers who file complaints or testify about railroad accidents and the Federal Employer's Liability Act makes it a crime to fire an employee who furnishes facts regarding a railroad accident.