Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
blog hero

Subscribe

Get the latest in print & creative arts business updates, trends, and inspiration.

Dear David: I’ve heard it said that termination always comes with risk. What does that mean?

Question: I’ve heard it said that termination always comes with risk. What does that mean?

Answer:
It means there’s always a risk that a terminated employee could make an issue of the termination, claiming that it was discriminatory or based on some other illegal reason. (There’s also the risk that they will bad-mouth your organization on the internet.)

In most cases, employers can terminate an employee for any reason or no reason at all. However, there are a handful of illegal reasons for firing someone, and nothing you do can guarantee that an employee won’t call a lawyer or the Department of Labor and claim that their termination was for one of these illegal reasons, even if you had great documentation and they’d done something completely worthy of termination. This is why no termination is risk-free.

That said, while you can’t eliminate all risk, you can and should do everything in your power to reduce it (e.g., having a clear, well-documented reason for the termination, being respectful to the departing employee). If you have a good reason for the termination, and the terminated employee knows you can provide evidence of this reason, they’re much less likely to try to bring a claim against you.


David Katz

Vice President
VMA Insurance Services
To send your questions, write to david@vma.bz

Thank You

Click the link below to download the latest Connected issue.

Sign Up to Start Receiving Chronicles

Contact me for the next session

Contact me about the next Print 101 class

Subscribe

Get a Free eBook on using Ancilliary Benefits to Retain Employees