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A Straitjacket For Employment At-Will: Recognizing Breach Of Implied Contract Actions For Wrongful Demotion, Gregory M. Munson

Vanderbilt Law Review

For over a century, employment at-will has been the law in almost all American jurisdictions.' As a result, employers can fire their employees, and employees can quit, with or without reason. In addition, employers have the authority under the at-will rule to regulate all terms and conditions of employment. During the past two decades a series of judicial exceptions to the at-will rule that prohibit termination of an employee for a variety of reasons have eroded the at-will doctrine. These exceptions fall into two categories. First, an employer may not terminate an employee for reasons that violate public policy Second, …