Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

Employment-At-Will Doctrine L trece ! rt Leg l "## L $% Et&ics% ' Corpor te (o)ern nce *+ly ,-% ,#1. /+s n C rr% *D

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE Employment-At-Will Doctrine

T&e employment- t-$ill 0octrine is leg l r+ling s+pporte0 1y comp nies t& t llo$s n employer t&e 1ility to 0ismiss n employee 2or ny re son% ot&er t& n n illeg l one or no re son% $it&o+t leg l li 1ility3 T&e 0octrine llo$s n employee to le )e position or 4o1% t ny time% $it&o+t re son )oi0 o2 ny leg l conse5+ences 6! l1ert ' Ing+lli% ,#1,73 Wit& employment- t$ill% n employer & s t&e rig&t to c& nge its policies or terms o2 employment $it&o+t notice3 W ges or 1ene2its c n 1e ltere0 or re0+ce0 t ny time3 T&e 0octrine c n 1e mo0i2ie0 1y contr cts 0r $n 1y t&e employer3 T&e contr ct m y speci2y t&e terms o2 employment or m y st te t& t ny termin tion $ill 1e 2or speci2ic c +se s+c& s poor 4o1 per2orm nce or miscon0+ct on t&e employee8s p rt3 /ince t&e inception o2 employment- t-$ill% co+rts & )e m 0e e9ceptions to t&is r+le3 T&e m in e9ceptions to employment- t-$ill incl+0e implie0 co)en nt o2 goo0 2 it&% implie0 contr ct% n0 p+1lic policy3 T&e e9ception o2 p+1lic policy pre)ents termin tion o2 n employee 2or re2+s l to p rticip te in n ct t& t is pro&i1ite0 1y st te l $% reporting o2 n ct t& t )iol tes t&e l $% cts t& t re o2 p+1lic interest% or e9ercising ny rig&t o2 citi:en% s+c& s 2iling $or;er8s compens tion cl im3 Implie0 contr cts re cre te0 sometimes or lly or t&ro+g& l ng+ ge presente0 in t&e employee & n01oo; 2or comp ny3 T&ere m y 1e some )er1 l ss+r nce 2rom n employer t& t n employee8s employment $ill not 1e termin te0 or some proce0+re o+tline0 in t&e employee & n01oo; t& t gi)es n implic tion t&e employer $ill not termin te employment3 <in lly% implie0 co)en nt o2 goo0 2 it& is 1 se0 on pro&i1iting n employer 2rom termin ting employment 1 se0 on spite or 1 0 2 it&3 <or e9 mple% n employer termin tes n ol0er employee to ;eep 2rom & )ing to p y o+t &is=&er retirement 1ene2its3 T&is e9ception pre)ents t&is 2rom occ+rring3 Along $it& t&e t&ree m 4or e9ceptions% t&ere re t$o st t+tory e9ceptions to employmentt-$ill% s+c& s illeg l 0iscrimin tion t& t is 1 se0 on religion% r ce% se9% n tion l origin% etc3> n0

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

ret li tion3 <e0er l n0 st te l $s re in pl ce to pro&i1it 0iscrimin tion3 ?n0er t&e e9ception o2 ret li tion% n employer c nnot termin te n employee 2or cl iming compens tion 2or o)ertime% p rticip ting in +nion% 2iling 2or $or;ers8 compens tion% or $&istle1lo$ing3 An employee is protecte0 in t&e pri) te sector in some st tes 2rom 1eing termin te0 2or reporting n employer8s $rong0oing or illeg l ctions 6NC/L% ,#1.73 W&en t&ere re no st te l $ st t+tes in pl ce% pri) te employees & )e to re)ie$ m ny 0i22erent r+les to 0etermine i2 t&ey & )e c se t ll in pro)ing $rong2+l termin tion3 ! )ing 1een ne$ly &ire0 s C&ie2 Oper ting O22icer 6COO7 $it& comp ny% se)er l personnel iss+es & )e 1een 1ro+g&t 2ort&3 As res+lt% t&e employment- t-$ill 0octrine nee0s to 1e n ly:e0 $it& e c& iss+e to concl+0e $& t co+rse o2 ction s&o+l0 1e t ;en3 An e) l+ tion o2 ny e9ceptions n0=or li 1ilities $ill nee0 to 1e 00resse0 to ens+re e c& sit+ tion is properly & n0le0 n0 no imp ct on oper tions3 <+rt&ermore% t&ere is no $&istle1lo$er policy in pl ce 2or t&e comp ny3 A 0ecision $ill nee0 to 1e m 0e $&et&er or not t&e comp ny s&o+l0 implement s+c& policy3 Iss+e N+m1er One *o&n & s 0eci0e0 to p+1licly r nt &is 2eelings 1o+t one o2 o+r most ) l+ 1le clients 1y posting t&ose 2eelings on &is soci l me0i p ge3 <irst% t&e &+m n reso+rces represent ti)e s&o+l0 1e cons+lte0 to e) l+ te i2 o+r comp ny & s in pl ce policy t& t 00resses employee con0+ct on soci l me0i net$or;ing3 Ne9t% $e s&o+l0 recei)e copy o2 t&e st tement m 0e 1y *o&n3 ?n0er t&e employment- t-$ill 0octrine% t&ere re cert in protecte0 cti)ities t& t s&o+l0 1e re)ie$e0 to 0etermine i2 *o&n s&o+l0=s&o+l0 not 1e termin te0 6! l1ert ' Ing+lli% ,#1,73 In t&is p rtic+l r sit+ tion% *o&n 0eci0e0 to p+1licly critici:e o+r most import nt c+stomer3 Employees re represent ti)es o2 t&e comp ny3 !is ctions mig&t imply to t&e p+1lic t& t &is opinions re t&e opinions o2 o+r comp ny3 T&e st tement s&o+l0 1e e) l+ te0 to 0etermine i2 *o&n $ s )enting or

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE i2 &e $ s re lly trying to impro)e on somet&ing3 Content cre te0 in r nt re2lects on t&e comp ny3 @ se0 on t&e +tilit ri nism et&ics t&eory% in sit+ tion $&ere t&ere re m ny

st ;e&ol0ers in)ol)e0% n e) l+ tion o2 t&e conse5+ences% 1ot& goo0 n0 1 0% m+st 1e 0one3 T&e 0ecision & s to 1e 2or t&e o)er ll goo0 o2 t&e entire org ni: tion intern lly n0 e9tern lly3 T&e imp ct o2 *o&n8s st tements o+t$eig&s t&e goo0 in t&is sit+ tion3 @ se0 on t&e N tion l L 1or Rel tions Act% *o&n8s ctions $ere m 0e on &is o$n 1e& l2 n0 not s gro+p 6R+1in ' /t it% ,#1173 Only go)ernment is restricte0 2rom limiting speec&3 Wit& t&is 1eing pri) te comp ny% $e c n recommen0 termin tion o2 t&is employee3 To mitig te ny 2+t+re occ+rrences n0 to ens+re ll employees re ligne0 $it& t&e co0e o2 et&ics n0 st n0 r0 o2 con0+ct o2 t&e comp ny% t&e comp ny $ill implement ne$ policy% 0et iling t&e comp ny8s co0e o2 et&ics n0 st n0 r0s o2 con0+ct n0 its )ie$ on soci l me0i net$or;ing3 T&e comp ny $ill lso pro)i0e tr ining to e c& employee on compli nce% re5+iring ll employees to sign ttest tion st tements in greement3 Iss+e N+m1er T$o *im $ s 0isple se0 1o+t t&e comp ny8s c& nge in t&e sc&e0+les 2or commissions n0 1on+ses3 !e )oice0 t&ose concerns in protest t&ro+g& em il to ot&er employees% s+ggesting 1oycott o2 t&e ne9t s les meeting3 W&en +sing comp ny em il% t&ere is norm lly no pri) cy n0 t&e comp ny & s rig&t to ;eep s+r)eill nce o2 em il cco+nts3 ?n0er employment- t-$ill% t&e comp ny is llo$e0 to c& nge n0=or re0+ce compens tion t ny time n0 2or ny re son 6R+1in ' /t it% ,#1173 Also% t&ere is no )iol tion o2 p+1lic policy3 In t&is sit+ tion% *im co+l0 1e termin te0 2or mis+se o2 t&e comp ny em il system3 !o$e)er% t&ere is gre ter goo0 t& t $o+l0 come o+t o2 t&is 1y not termin ting *im3 ?n0er +tilit ri nism% t&e 0ecision t& t $o+l0 res+lt in

t&e gre test goo0 $o+l0 1e to )er1 lly reprim n0 *im 2or &is t ctics3 In 00ition to t&e )er1 l reprim n0% t&e comp ny s&o+l0 &ol0 meeting $it& ll s lespeople to 0isc+ss e)eryone8s opinion on t&e c& nge3 T&e meeting s&o+l0 1e &el0 in n en)ironment t& t $elcomes 0i22erences o2

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

opinion n0 2osters $illingness o2 m n gement to entert in ot&er i0e s o2 1etter compens tion sc&e0+le to 1e consi0ere03 A s+r)ey s&o+l0 1e 0istri1+te0 to scert in t&e o)er ll opinion o2 t&e ne$ sc&e0+les n0 to g +ge &o$ m ny $o+l0 1e $illing to o22er some s+ggestions3 T&is e22ort $o+l0 empo$er t&e employees to 2eel s i2 t&eir opinions n0 2eelings m tter to t&e comp ny3 I2 employees & )e t&e comp ny 1e&in0 t&em% t&ey re more $illing to 0o t&e $or;3 Iss+e N+m1er T&ree Ellen is not & ppy 1o+t t&e CEO recei)ing 1on+s n0 st rte0 1log in protest3 On &er 1log% s&e st te0 no one lo$er t& n 0irector & s recei)e0 r ise in t&e l st t$o ye rs3 !er st tements lso 0epicte0 &er 1osses s people $&o ;ne$ not&ing n0 $ere o+t o2 to+c&3 ?n0er employment- t-$ill% t&ere re no pp rent e9ceptions t& t $o+l0 pre)ent t&e comp ny 2rom termin ting Ellen3 Ellen is $riting on t&is 1log on &er o$n 1e& l2 n0 not $it& t&e co lition o2 gro+p o2 employees3 Ellen% &o$e)er% is 1ringing to lig&t sit+ tion t& t s&o+l0 1e t&oro+g&ly in)estig te0 1y t&e comp ny to con2irm t&ere is in0ee0 0iscrep ncy in 1on+ses 1y t&e comp ny3 In lig&t o2 t&is% Ellen s&o+l0 1e recommen0e0 2or termin tion3 ?tilit ri nism t&eory pro)i0es t& t it $o+l0 1e o2 2 r gre ter 1ene2it to t&e comp ny ;eep &er t& n to termin te &er3 T&e N tion l L 1or Rel tions @o r0 sserts t& t n employee8s p+1lic compl ints 1o+t n employer8s 1e& )ior $it&o+t gro+p cti)ity re not protecte0 cti)ity +n0er t&e N tion l L 1or Rel tions Act 6R+1in ' /t it% ,#1173 !o$e)er% it8s 1est to 0isc+ss t&e compl int $it& t&e employee to 1egin n in)estig tion into t&e iss+e3 T&e comp ny s&o+l0 2orm &otline% i2 necess ry% to e) l+ te sit+ tions s+c& s t&is to 0etermine t&e ) li0ity3 I2 t&e comp ny $ere to termin te Ellen% t&e sit+ tion mig&t ne)er 1e ) li0 te0 n0 t&e im ge o2 t&e comp ny mig&t 1e t rnis&e0 i2 t&e lleg tions $ere 2o+n0 to 1e tr+e n0 not&ing $ s 0one to recti2y t&e sit+ tion3 Iss+e N+m1er <o+r

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

T&e comp ny & s 2o+n0 o+t @ill & s 1een +sing t&e @l c;1erry iss+e0 1y t&e comp ny to con0+ct &is si0e 1+siness3 T&e comp ny & s t&e rig&t to monitor comp ny iss+e0 property3 !+m n reso+rces s&o+l0 2irst 1e cons+lte0 to 0etermine i2 t&e employee m n+ l & s speci2ic l ng+ ge t& t spe ;s to speci l 0isciplin ry proce0+res 1e2ore termin tion3 T&e comp ny & s t&e rig&t to termin te @ill 2or $ sting $or; time n0 mis+se o2 comp ny property3 T&e 0ecision $o+l0 1e 1 se0 on t&e t&eory o2 0eontology $&ere person8s c&oices re 1 se0 on set o2 rig&ts n0 0+ties t&ey 0&ere to3 Most comp nies $&en iss+ing comp ny property & )e n implie0 r+le t&e property s&o+l0 1e 2or comp ny 1+siness% not person l3 T&e comp ny going 2or$ r0 s&o+l0 ens+re t&ere is n e9plicit policy% m y1e $ritten greement t& t is signe0 1y t&e employee $&en property% s+c& s p&one is 1eing iss+e0 to t&e employee3 T&is greement s&o+l0 o+tline r+les t&e employee s&o+l0 2ollo$ $&ile t&e property is in &is=&er possession3 Iss+e N+m1er <i)e T&e cco+nting 0ep rtment secret ries 0resse0 in 1l c; n0 $&ite stripes in protest o2 memo t& t nno+nce0 speci l ;eylogger so2t$ re & s 1een inst lle0 on ll comp ny comp+ters3 ?n0er employment- t-$ill% t&e comp ny & s rig&t to inst ll ny so2t$ re it ple ses on t&e comp ny property3 ?nless t&e comp ny & s speci2ic 0ress co0e% t&e secret ries re not in )iol tion o2 ny policies set 2ort& 1y t&e comp ny3 T&e protest is not t ;ing $ y 2rom t&eir $or; per2orm nce or pro0+cti)ity 2or t&e 0 y3 T&ey re lso cting s gro+p in protest n0 not in0i)i0+ lly3 /o% t&eir gro+p cti)ity $o+l0 1e protecte0 cti)ity +n0er t&e NLRA% s&o+l0 t&ey +se t& t e9ception s gro+n0s 2or $rong2+l termin tion3 T&e et&ic l t&eory o2 +tilit ri nism s&o+l0 1e +se0 s 1 sis 2or t&e 0ecision to not termin te t&e secret ries3 T&ere is n opport+nity to limit li 1ility in t&is scen rio n0 t&e imp ct on oper tions 1y meeting $it& t&e secret ries n0 m n gement to 0isc+ss t&eir re sons 2or protest n0 1r instorm i0e s so t&eir 2eelings re &e r03

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

In most c ses o2 t&is n t+re% employees 4+st $ nt to &e r t& t t&eir 2eelings m tter to t&e comp ny 6NC/L% ,#1.7 Iss+e N+m1er /i9 *oe is t&re tening to s+e t&e comp ny 2or in) sion o2 &is pri) cy 2ter &e & s 1een 0iscipline0 2or &is criticism o2 c+stomer )i em il t& t $ s sent 2rom &is o$n em il cco+nt on t&e comp ny comp+ter3 *oe & s lre 0y 1een 0iscipline0 2or &is ctions3 I2 t&e comp ny termin te0 *oe t t&is time% implie0 co)en nt o2 goo0 2 it& mig&t 1e compromise03 T&is me ns termin ting *oe mig&t 1e )ie$e0 s 1eing spite2+l3 @ec +se *oe is only t&re tening to s+e t&e comp ny t t&is point% 2rom t&e )ie$point o2 +tilit ri nism t&eory o2 et&ics% t&e comp ny s&o+l0 meet $it& *oe to resol)e ny iss+es to )oi0 ny litig tion 2rom occ+rring3 Iss+e N+m1er /e)en A 0ep rtment s+per)isor $ nts ppro) l to 2ire &is secret ry% citing ins+1or0in tion3 @ec +se t&e secret ry & s l$ ys gotten &ig& per2orm nce re)ie$s% meeting is sc&e0+le0 to 0isc+ss t&e iss+e3 As res+lt% it is 0etermine0 s&e re2+se0 to 2 lsi2y e9pense reports 2or &er s+per)isor3 Appro) l o2 termin tion s&o+l0 not 1e gr nte0 in t&is sit+ tion s t&is is pre)ente0 +n0er t&e employment- t-$ill e9ception o2 p+1lic policy 6NC/L% ,#1.73 It is not l $2+l to 2 lsi2y ny 0oc+ments3 <rom t&e spect o2 +tilit ri nism% t&ere re 2 r too m ny conse5+ences to termin ting t&e secret ry in t&is c se3 Inste 0% t&ere s&o+l0 1e 2orm l in)estig tion intern lly o2 t&e s+per)isor8s ctions n0 1+se o2 po$er3 T&e opport+nity presents itsel2 to +nco)er ot&er cts or potenti l cts o2 t&is n t+re3 T&e comp ny s&o+l0 implement compli nce progr m t& t tr ins ll employees incl+0ing m n gement in t&e st n0 r0s +n0er $&ic& t&e comp ny go)erns itsel23 T&ere s&o+l0 lso 1e nn+ l re2res&er tr ining on compli nce n0 t&e ) l+es t&e comp ny & s n0 e9pects o2 its employees3 Iss+e N+m1er Eig&t

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE

One o2 t&e s+per)isors $ nts to recommen0 termin tion o2 Ann 2or 1eing o+t 2rom $or; $it&o+t &is ppro) l% t&o+g& t&e 1sence $ s 0+e to 4+ry 0+ty3 /&e & 0 s;e0 o22 0+e to 4+ry 0+ty in 0) nce 1+t &e 0i0 not $ nt to ppro)e it3 All citi:ens & )e rig&t to ser)e 4+ry 0+ty n0 it is p+1lic policy e9ception to termin te n employee 1ec +se t&ey re e9ercising t& t rig&t 6NC/L% ,#1.73 To limit ny li 1ility n0 imp ct to oper tions% t&e comp ny s&o+l0 ens+re &+m n reso+rces con0+cts compre&ensi)e tr ining 2or m n gement to re)ie$ policy n0 proce0+res t&e comp ny 2ollo$s% s $ell s reg+l tions3 ?pper le)el m n gement n0 &+m n reso+rces s&o+l0 meet person lly $it& Ann 8s 1oss to re)ie$ &is ctions n0 to ens+re &e +n0erst n0s reg+l tions n0 policy3 T&is 0ecision is 1 se0 on 0eontology% 1eing t& t t&is p+1lic policy is +ni)ers l to e)eryone n0 t&e 0ecision m 0e & s 2 r re c&ing e22ect on ll $it&in t&e comp ny3 T&e $ y t&is sit+ tion is & n0le0 +ltim tely imp cts e)eryone in t&e comp ny 6! l1ert ' Ing+lli% ,#1,73 @ se0 on t&e personnel iss+es presente0 to t&e COO% it is in t&e comp ny8s 1est interest to instit+te $&istle1lo$er policy3 W&istle1lo$ing occ+rs $&en n employee 1rings ttention to potenti l $rong0oing $it&in t&e comp ny 6! l1ert ' Ing+lli% ,#1,73 @y & n0ling iss+es intern lly% comp ny )oi0s t&e neg ti)e imp ct sit+ tion mig&t present n0 t&e 0 m ge t& t mig&t 1e inc+rre0 s&o+l0 t&e inci0ent go p+1lic3 C ses re 0oc+mente0 $&ere person & s 1ro+g&t ttention to $rong0oing $it&in t&e comp ny% termin te0% t&en +pon 2iling c se 2or $rong2+l termin tion% recei)e0 compens tion 1ec +se t&e $rong0oing $ s ) li0 te0 n0 not 00resse0 1y t&e comp ny 6@ rnett% 1AA,73 It is 1ecoming more necess ry 2or comp ny to & )e some type o2 $&istle1lo$er policy in pl ce 0+e to t&e incre se0 n+m1er o2 2e0er l l $s p sse0 to protect $&istle1lo$er3 In 1A-A% t&e W&istle1lo$er8s Protection Act $ s p sse0 +n0er t&e @+s& A0ministr tion3 /t te $&istle1lo$er policies re incre sing s $ell3 T&e policy $ill $or; s long s t&ere re t le st t&ree 2+n0 ment l points incl+0e0 in t&e policy3 <irst% it & s to 1e more t& n 4+st policy on p per3 ! )e cle r st tement t& t t&e comp ny 2ollo$s t&is policy 1y & )ing

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE e)eryone incl+0ing m n gement complete tr ining cl sses t& t re)ie$ t&e policy3 /econ0% 1y incl+0ing m n gement in tr ining% t&is s&o$s e)eryone it is s+pporte0 1y t&e entire comp ny3

! )e m n gers incl+0e re)ie$ o2 compli nce policies in t&eir st 22 meetings n0 0i)ision meetings so employees see &o$ import nt t&e policy is3 T&ir0% ens+re open comm+nic tion n0 &onesty $it&in t&e comp ny 1y est 1lis&ing 2orm l process 2or reporting in $rong0oing s+c& s compli nce &otline monitore0 1y n o+tsi0e 2irm to ens+re iss+es re 1ro+g&t to t&e comp ny8s ttention n0 t&e iss+es re t ;en serio+sly 1y & )ing t&em in)estig te0 1y t&e o+tsi0e 2irm n0 reporte0 1 c; to employees )i c se st+0ies in t&e nn+ l tr ining sessions3 Wit& ny comp ny% personnel iss+es $ill rise3 To 0e5+ tely 00ress e c& sit+ tion% n o22icer s&o+l0 ens+re e c& sit+ tion is properly n ly:e0 n0 e) l+ te0 1 se0 on employment- t$ill3 @y properly e) l+ ting t&e comp ny8s rig&ts n0 limit tions +n0er t&e l $% it ens+res leg l r mi2ic tions re minimi:e03

Re2erences @ rnett% T3 61AA,73 W&y Yo+r Comp ny /&o+l0 ! )e A W&istle1lo$ing Policy3 SAM Advanced Management Journal (07497075); 57(4), 37. ! l1ert% T3% ' Ing+lli% E3 6,#1,73 Law et!"c# "n t!e $u#"ne## env"ronment 6Bt& e0373 M son%

O!: /o+t&-Western Ceng ge Le rning3 N tion l Con2erence o2 /t te Legisl t+res% 6,#1.73 T&e At Will Pres+mption n0 E9ceptions to t&e R+le3 %at"onal &on'erence o' State Leg"#lature#. Retrie)e0 on *+ly ,B% ,#1. 2rom &ttp:==$$$3ncsl3org=iss+es-rese rc&=l 1or= t-$ill-employment-o)er)ie$3 sp9

Assignment 1: EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE R+1in% !3 ' /t it% D3% /eptem1er A% ,#113 Leg l Cie$: W&en C n An Employer <ire An

Employee O)er An O22ensi)e < ce1oo; PostingD (etro"t Legal %ew#. Retrie)e0 on *+ly ,B% ,#1. 2rom &ttp:==$$$3leg lne$s3com=0etroit=1#B#,B,