New York Employment Lawyer Blog

We get phone calls and emails from people every day who tell us about a wrongful termination. Some people have spent decades working for a company only to be fired on a whim. These people are often in tears or extremely upset - their careers damaged and their financial survival in jeopardy. Most all of them do not have any legal basis to challenge the termination. We have to tell them about the employment at will doctrine. It means that an employer can fire anyone at any time for any reason or no reason. The laws of this country only prohibit employment discrimination, paying wages that are too low, and several other limited laws. It seems unfair to the person who was just fired. They are often in shock to learn that there is nothing that can be done other than find a new job. While it may seem unfair, the employees often to do not realize that the employment at will doctrine is a two way street. They are free to quit anytime they want and they can quit for any reason or no reason. Both parties to an employment relationship are free to end it at will.