The Public Policy Exception to the Employment-at-Will Doctrine: Its Inconsistencies in Application

Comment by Christopher L. Pennington

At the turn of the century, the common law afforded an employer the right to discharge an at will employee, one that does not have an employment contract for a definite period of time, for any reason, no reason, or even a morally corrupt reason. Today many exceptions exist to the employer's common-law right, although the common-law employment-at-will doctrine still remains the basis of employment law in most states. This Comment focuses on the judicially recognized exception for discharge in violation of a state public policy and the inconsistencies in its application among and within the states.


About the Author

Christopher L. Pennington.

Citation

68 Tul. L. Rev. 1583 (1994)