Legal Question in Employment Law in Georgia

Unwritten Probation

I was recently put on a one-month ''probation'' for excessive lateness. I have received neither verbal nor written warning prior, and the probation was not put in writing. I believe that my manager is trying to retaliate against me for my confronting him after hearing him cursing and swearing about me when he thought I could not hear. I didn't feel comfortable going to HR b/c of a previous bad experience. I requested an exit interview (I gave notice), but am afraid that my legal rights were violated. How can I tell?


Asked on 5/22/08, 10:26 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: Unwritten Probation

Most employment is "at will," and you can be terminated for any or no reason except a short list of discriminatory reasons (age, gender, race..). That includes when a manager/boss just does not like you, or after a confrontation. The items you mention -- probation, written/unwritten warnings, exit interviews, etc. - are not "legal rights." In addition, since you quit and didn't want to go to HR, you might have waived or forfeited any company "rights" you may have otherwise had. You can always see an employment lawyer, but quitting or getting fired after a tift with the boss does not generally invoke any legal remedies.

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Answered on 5/26/08, 2:40 pm


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