verbal contract

[Tobie]

What is the name of your state? Iowa
I was fired from my job recently and was told at the time of termination that I would receive my year end bonus. Now he tells me that I had to be employed at the time of payout. The handbook states payout if employee is employed at Dec. 31 which I was. I was manager but the handbook doesnt state if different for managment. Does a verbal contract hold up in my case? There was a witness to this conversation if that makes a difference.

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: Does a verbal contract hold up in my case?

A: No.

 

[CameronNewport]

What is the name of your state? Iowa
I was fired from my job recently and was told at the time of termination that I would receive my year end bonus. Now he tells me that I had to be employed at the time of payout. The handbook states payout if employee is employed at Dec. 31 which I was. I was manager but the handbook doesnt state if different for managment. Does a verbal contract hold up in my case? There was a witness to this conversation if that makes a difference.

A promise was made to you, but that promise did not constitute a contract. Contracts are comprised of both a give and a take. Since you didn't give anything in return for the promise, there was no contract and the promise is unenforceable.

You still have other possible legal arguments: You could argue that the handbook itself constituted a contract. You could also argue that the promise, though not a contract, should be enforced under the doctrine of promissory estoppel. (Of course, who knows whether the facts support either argument, or whether litigating the matter is even worth the expense.)