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employee communication (answered by EBG)
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employee communication (answered by EBG)
Discuss employment-law issues such as family leave, overtime, disabilities law, harassment, immigration and termination.
Can an employer terminate an employee for having contact with a terminated employee outside of the workplace?
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Forums » Topic Forums » Legal Forum » employee communication (answered by EBG)
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employee communication (answered by EBG)
posted at 5/4/2002 6:07 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
In an "at will" employment relationship, an employer can terminate an employee for any reason or no reason provided that it's not an illegal reason. In many jurisdictions, you could terminate the employee for the contact (although I think I'd be a bit circumspect about the reason and just leave it at "we're terminating your employment - end of subject").
In some jurisdictions, however, you cannot terminate an employee for what would be perfectly legal behavior outside the workplace. You should probably contact your company's legal counsel to check and see if what you're proposing would be legal in your jurisdiction. |
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employee communication (answered by EBG)
posted at 5/6/2002 8:30 AM EDT
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Posts: 521
First: 12/20/2001 Last: 7/8/2002 |
Once again, I agree with Carl. It depends on the state. Unless there is a specific statute on point, an employer is free to terminate an employee for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason at all, so long as it is not an illegal reason or in breach of contract. From a "fairness" standpoint, some might question the wisdom of terminating someone just because s/he associated with someone else outside of work. That is not my call. (Of course, if the individual was associating with an employee who had been fired to theft of company property and the company's property was still being taken by "persons unknown," then an employer might have cause to be suspicious and take the safe road.) |
Forums » Topic Forums » Legal Forum » employee communication (answered by EBG)
