THE INCREASING NUMBER of federal and state laws governing the employeremployee relationship has resulted in the ever-increasing risk of legal liability to employers who are terminating employees. Verdicts in the six fi gure range are now more common than they have ever been. Despite the legal pitfalls and snares that exist when fi ring an employee, there are certain instances where terminations are not only appropriate but necessary in order to preserve the orderly and effi cient operation of the organization. West Virginia, like the majority of states nationwide, is an employment at-will jurisdiction. That means that, generally speaking, employees can be discharged at anytime, with or without notice and for any reason or no reason, as long as it does not violate the law or public policy. This article lays out some of the issues involved in a termination and provides employers with practical advice so that they may anticipate and take steps necessary to reduce the risk associated with discharging an employee.
The Face of Business in West Virginia
