Employee at Will Doctrine
Demetria Y. Jackson
Strayer University
LEG 500- Laws, Ethics, and Corporate Governance
Professor Sarah Uhimchuk
Abstract
This paper is about the Employee at Will Doctrine. It explains the doctrine is and the State of Virginia. It explains the exception to the doctrine. As well as giving three scenarios and employer liability and the impact it has on the business. We discuss the ethical theories that support each scenario. Also, it includes a Virginia case that occurred within the last five years.
This research paper is about the employment-at-will doctrine. It will summarize the doctrine and discuss the state of Virginia. I will explain the exceptions to the doctrine. Three scenarios will be evaluated; determining whether the employee can legally be fired. While evaluating each scenario I will describe what action should be taken to limit liability and the impact it has on the business. I will examine Virginia’s policy and analyze an example that took place in the last five years.
An “At –Will Employee” refers to an employee whom an employer can terminate at will for any reason or for no reason at all; according to U.S. Legal. (n.d) The employment at will doctrine is suppose to be voluntary and indefinite for the employee as well as the employer. The employee can quit their job whenever they choose and for any reasons. The employers may also fire or layoff an employee at anytime and for any reasons. The At-Will Employment doctrine varies from state to state. There are several exceptions to the doctrine because the law can produce severe outcomes. In the state of Virginia the “common law has established the employment at will doctrine, allowing an employer to fire an employee for any reason as long as it does not violate public policy.” (.lawforchange.org, n.d.)
There are several exceptions to the rules. The most common exception is the exception that prevents terminations for reasons that violate...