Legal Question in Employment Law in Georgia
when it comes to the question have i ever been convicted of a felony on a job application i answered yes. then it says explain so i listed my first felony conviction. I also have another felony conviction but the question dosnt ask how many. I also consented to a background check. 2 weeks later i was terminated because they say i falsified documents but i didnt falsify nor did i lie about anything because i cant remember my whole criminal history thats the reason i consented to the background check so they can see my history for themselves. SO my question is was i wronyfully terminated for falsifying documents?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Employment in Georgia is generally at-will and employees can be terminated for any or no reason (absent a contract or unlawful discrimination). From your post, you left off important information requested. Most employers (and most people in general) would be very concerned that you can't remember your criminal history and how many felony convictions you have.
Georgia law governs your termination. Since it is an "at-will" employment state, the employer doesn't need a reason to terminate you. There is no cause of action for "wrongful termination" unless you can prove that the employer breached a contract with you or that the employer discriminated against you in violation of a federal statute. You have no contract that you mentioned, and there is no federal statute that prohibits an employer from terminating an employee who provided incomplete answers to employment questions about felony convictions.