Is it legal to terminatean employee just so thata significant other can be hired?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal to terminatean employee just so thata significant other can be hired?
I was hired as a dental hygienist about 1 1/2 months ago. When I applied for the job, I was currently employed in another office. I left my job for the new job that was promised to me for full time. After working for 1 1/2 months my boss called me to fire me because he was giving my job to his girlfriend. I was never late or absent. In fact I was working 9 hour days with only a 20 min break. Still never complained and did my job. He fired me because he decided to give my position to his girlfriend. He said he would give me a letter of recommendation. Is this legal?
Asked on September 16, 2010 under Employment Labor Law, Illinois
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
I'm afraid that you have no grounds here for a wrongful termination claim. The reason is that most employment arrangements are what is known as "at will". This means that basically you can choose to work for an employer or not, and an employer can hire or fire you for any reason or no reason. While seemingly unfair it's the law. There are exceptions to this however. If this action was not allowed by virtue of an employment contract, union agreement, or official company policy statement. Also, discrimination must not have played a role in your termination. Absent any of these circumstance your firing was legal.
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.