Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia

Employer Retaliation

I was hired to organize a new company with the promise of ''permanent employment and a $10,000 bonus.'' On my 3rd day at the job, my employer revealed he was on probation for various offenses and hated his PO and ordered me to write a letter to his PO stating he was being transfered to a different juristication due to his home lease was expiring June 25th (the home is owned by his partner)and as part of his compensation package he had to live in the house the company provided. He gave me a copy of the lease which did not expire until Oct, the new address to use (also owned by his partner), and contact information of his PO and ordered to sign it and convince his PO it was the truth. He again stated I had ''permanent employment and a $10,000 bonus'' for doing this to help him. I asked for documents to support his claim and was told don't worry I have your back just do it. I told him I had a real issue with giving false staements to an officer of the court. He then had me do non-work related assignments. He harrassed me for the letter.I was fired. He called me at home daily as late as 11PM (even after termination) demanding the letter. Can I be ordered to lie? Can I be fired if I refuse to committ an immoral, unethic and illegal act?


Asked on 5/29/06, 12:14 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Employer Retaliation

Of course, you can be fired in an employment at will jurisdiction such as the Commonwealth of Virginia for almost any reason that doesn't violate the protected categories enumerated in federal anti-discrimination law, such as race, religion, gender, age, etc., unless, of course, you have the special protection against such summary termination provisioned in a contract of employment or collective bargaining type of agreement.

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Answered on 5/29/06, 10:37 am


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