Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania

Termination Based on a Rumor

Is it lawful to be terminated from your job based on a rumor that you used inappropriate language? I know for a fact that inappropriate language was not used, the employee that was terminated was not given any specifics, just that he used an inappropriate word and some other employees complained. He was not told who complained and was not even given a chance to tell his side, he was just told that his employement was terminated, that was it. What are his rights? Can he be terminated based on a rumor?


Asked on 6/12/04, 10:20 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: Termination Based on a Rumor

Pennsylvania is an "at-will" employment state, meaning that an employer can fire somebody for any reason, or no reason---unless, the reason they were fired was discriminatory (i.e., motivated by race, religion, etc.) or unless the employer, either through a collective bargaining agreement with a union or through some sort of written policy, has indicated that discipline/termination will be for "just cause." There are other exceptions as well, but this is the general rule.

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Answered on 6/12/04, 1:25 pm


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