Public Policy Exceptions
Under the public policy exception, an employer may not fire an employee if it would violate the state's public policy doctrine or a state or federal statute.
This includes retaliating against an employee for performing an action that complies with public policy (such as informing the authorities of an illegal activity, for instance abuse of a resident in a nursing home), as well as refusing to perform an action that would violate public policy. In this diagram, the pink states have the 'exception', which protects the employee.
As of October 2000, forty-three U.S. states and the District of Columbia recognize public policy as an exception to the at-will rule.
The 7 states which do not have the exception are:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Nebraska
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Florida – three limited conditions can override an at-will agreement
Read more about this topic: At-will Employment
Famous quotes containing the words public, policy and/or exceptions:
“The public is a hibernating bear, hard to awaken and fond of honey.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“Maybe it’s understandable what a history of failures America’s foreign policy has been. We are, after all, a country full of people who came to America to get away from foreigners. Any prolonged examination of the U.S. government reveals foreign policy to be America’s miniature schnauzer—a noisy but small and useless part of the national household.”
—P.J. (Patrick Jake)
“Every declaration of love contains an unstated list of exceptions and demands.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)