jslacker wrote:I thought DE was a hire/fire at will state, whereas an employer dosent really need a reason to fire you per se... am I understanding hire/fire at will correctly?
Delaware is one of many states that recognize "at-will employment" doctrine. However, the State of Delaware also has what is called the "implied contract exception". This means that the employer cannot terminate an employee if a contract is in place either written or implied. In most non-union companies, the implied contract is in the form of the companies policies manual or employee handbook. At the onset of employment, the newly hired worker has to either read, or go through a short orientation program and then sign a signature page of the handbook and return to the employer where it is kept on file in the employees records. Most company policies detail the reasons and processes for terminations. What are grounds for immediate termination, and how infractions are handled, disciplinary actions take can be taken, and ultimately what will be reasonable grounds for termination. Race, gender, etc do not, and cannot be raised if the employer terminates an employee in line with the policed outlined in the "contract" (employee handbook)
I have hired and fired many, many people over the last 20 years. I have been taken to court (as a representative of the company) for racial discrimination many times. But because I follow the policies to the letter as outlined in the employee's handbook, not one case was ever lost in court.
Chip