WHAT STEPS SHOULD A BUSINESS CONSIDER BEFORE FIRING OR DEMOTING AN EMPLOYEE?
• Consider These Issues Before Firing or Downgrading an Employee Before you fire an employee or take some other negative employment action in todays climate, you should know your rights as an employer. Often it is better to follow a procedure or have some sort of established company policy. It may be wise to consult an employment attorney about the particulars of the firing to be sure how much care is advisable. Unless you have entered into a contract with a termination provision or are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, your employee is considered an employee-at-will. Thus, for smaller companies almost all employees are employees-at-will. This legal term means that with certain very important exceptions, categories of possible discrimination, most of which are discussed below, you are free to fire for any reason or no reason. Employees do not have a right to sue over a nasty boss or difficult work situations (again with certain limits). Be sure that you have followed any co
