Avoiding a Public Policy Violation Overview

Even at-will employees cannot be terminated for an unlawful reason that violates public policy. For more information, see When You Cannot Terminate.

Violations of public policy generally fall into four categories:

• Termination for refusing to violate a statute
• Termination for performing a statutory obligation
• Termination for exercising a statutory right or privilege
• Termination for reporting an alleged violation of a statute of public importance ¹

These claims often arise when an employee refuses a supervisor’s sexual advances, reports