Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia
What are the employee rights/recourse
Hired at will. Signed an offer that stated I was entitled to the full benefit package. The benefit package include a summary of all benefits effective the first day of employment (quarterly bonuses, 3-week paid vacation (w/o accrual), training and tuition reimbursement).
* Employer entered into a contract with the gov't providing she provide training to its employees who are required
* Terminated the benefits six months later
* Employees went to gov't to see if they will cover training
* Employees paid for training out of pocket
* Gov't informed employer of her contractual obligation
* Employer learned of the employees self paid training
* Employer threatened to take action if employee did not provide her with copies of what training was taken
* Employee did not have documents to provide
* After 9 months of employment, the employer designed a performance appraisal system tied directly to employee bonuses. Included criteria for the employee to maintain training on own
* Employees were terminated a few weeks later
In addition, the employer had full knowledge of an employees grievance complaint from another employer and deliberately charged the employee with a similar allegation, not investigated. Recourse
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: What are the employee rights/recourse
Recourse = 0(in my view). You were employed at will, therefore, you can be fired at will.
Reason: No contract that guaranteed you reimbursement/compensation for training which you paid for out of your pocket.(Employer's service contract with the government is not a substitute for a personal contract between you and employer which would guarantee your right of reimbursement for this expenditure. You, apparently, had no such contract.)