At-will contract

[pixieb]

What is the name of your state? MN

I work for a company in which all employees are at-will. The reading I have done suggests that the at-will designation means the company can fire anyone, any time, for any reason that is not illegal. What would be an illegal reason to fire someone under the at-will contract?

 

[cbg]

Well, at-will contract is a contradiction in terms. A more accurate designation would be the at-will doctrine.

Illegal reasons would be firing someone because of their race, religion, national origin or other characteristic protected by state or Federal law; or firing someone because they applied for or used a benefit or right protected under the law. Examples, FMLA, workers comp, union organizing or activity, reporting unsafe activity to OSHA or illegal activity to the appropriate regulatory agency (in a very few cases, to HR or upper management), etc.