Is It Time To Terminate At-Will Employment Laws?

Montana remains the only state in the nation that does not have at-will employment. At-will means you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. Boss in a bad mood? That's a firing? Doesn't like your shirt? You're outta there.  Sure, there are exceptions like discrimination and whistleblower laws, but otherwise you're at the mercy of your boss.

So why haven't American workers risen up and said it's time to terminate at-will employment?

Well, maybe they're finally starting to, thanks to SEIU. In February, New York City saw a proposed just-cause bill introduced to protect fast-food workers at the behest of SEIU. Philadelphia passed a just-cause ordinance to protect parking industry workers last week, also at the urging of SEIU.

Montana, unlike every other state, requires employers to have just cause before they fire workers. And isn't that fair? Your family's ability to buy food and pay for shelter depends on your job. Most Americans are $400 of unexpected expenses or lost wages away from financial meltdown. Montana has had this law since 1987, and businesses are still there, the economy still functions and the state hasn't exploded, despite dire warnings from naysayers to the contrary.

Under Montana's Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act, MCA 39-2-901:

(1) A discharge is wrongful only if:
(a) it was in retaliation for the employee's refusal to violate public policy or for reporting a violation of public policy;
(b) the discharge was not for good cause and the employee had completed the employer's probationary period of employment; or
(c) the employer violated the express provisions of its own written personnel policy.
(2) (a) During a probationary period of employment, the employment may be terminated at the will of either the employer or the employee on notice to the other for any reason or for no reason.
(b) If an employer does not establish a specific probationary period or provide that there is no probationary period prior to or at the time of hire, there is a probationary period of 6 months from the date of hire.

Pretty reasonable, huh? If New York and Philadelphia get the ball rolling, maybe other cities and states will follow. American workers deserve to have some stability and a regular income as long as they do their jobs.

Let's finally give notice that we're going to terminate at-will employment laws.

Is Your Offer Letter A Contract? Of Course It Is

I see offer letters that make a specific job offer and then say, by the way, this isn't a contract. Guess what? Offer plus acceptance equals contract. I don't care what that disclaimer says, it's still a contract.

Now, what the contract means is another thing. It may say you're at-will, which means they can fire you for any reason or no reason at all. Some states have exceptions to the at-will doctrine. In all states, at-will still doesn't affect your rights under discrimination and whistleblower laws.

Your offer letter probably has your starting position and salary listed. That means the employer is bound by this once you accept. If you're at-will, they can change it, but luring you in with a promise of a management position and high pay and then making you a minimum wage janitor is not only a breach of contract, but is likely fraud.

The offer letter probably also lists benefits and other terms. You are bound by the terms, as is your employer.

Of course, if you sign a more detailed agreement when you start, then the offer letter may be no longer in effect. Most contracts say they supersede all prior contracts. Be careful to read what you sign, especially that giant pile of papers they give you when you start. Don't sign something you can't live with.

If it turns out that the employer had no intention of living up to its deal when it made the offer, such as offering a nonexistent job or benefits, then you could have fraud claims along with your breach of contract claims.

So make sure to keep a copy of that job offer. If it's an email, print it and keep it. Keep anything you sign. It may be a contract, and it might come in handy later. It might also contain post-employment obligations you have to comply with such as a noncompete agreement.

If there's something you don't understand in the offer, make sure you get clarification before you accept. Offer plus acceptance equals contract. If the company is bound, so are you. Pay attention to what you are agreeing. If you don't understand it, get legal advice from an employee-side employment lawyer before you accept.