the.com/wrongful termination
getting fired for a reason the law says doesn't count.
means a firing that violates a contract, statute, or public policy, not just one that feels unfair.
from emerged as the legal counterweight to at-will employment, the american default letting employers fire for any reason or none — courts and legislatures carved out exceptions for reasons that cross a line, like discrimination or retaliation.
at-will defaultmost us jobs can end for almost any reason
the exceptionsdiscrimination, retaliation, contract breach, whistleblowing
burden shiftemployee must prove the real reason was illegal
not just feelingsunfair and illegal are legally very different things
for instance
tesla whistleblower case — martin tripp fired after flagging battery defects, 2018 dispute
epic v google engineers — claims of retaliatory firing tied to antitrust testimony
pregnancy discrimination suits — a recurring category, often settled before trial