Can I be terminated for working at the same place as my husband?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I be terminated for working at the same place as my husband?
My husband and I have worked at the same company for years. I have been promoted twice since. He is not my direct subordinate. The company just implemented a condition in the handbook, this year, regarding relatives working together. Are either of us at risk for termination?
Asked on January 13, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Unless you have an employment contract which guarantees or protects your employment, you are an employee at will. An employee at will may be fired at any time, for any reason. So without an employment contract, if a company doesn't want to employee two spouses, it would be free to fire one (or both) of them--companies have almost free reign to make their staffing, hiring, and firing decisions and policies, subject only to a few limitatios, like no illegal discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, age over 40, disability, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.