Firing an Employee with a Contract

This is about employment contract law and is set in general terms. You should always speak with a licensed attorney before taking action regarding the firing of an employee if there is a contract.

employment contract, chances are that the contract says something about how the employee can and can’t be fired. Most employment contracts only allow an employee to be fired for “good cause,” which can seriously limit an employer’s ability to deal with a troublesome employee.

If the employee has an express written contract, then staying on the right side of the law is fairly simple — just abide by the terms of the contract. Employment contracts come in many other flavors, however, and knowing whether you’re complying with them or not can be difficult.

Can You Have an Oral Employment Contract?

Yes. Yes you can. Agreements or contracts don’t have to be in writing to be valid under the law. If you promise an employee during the interview that you won’t fire them “unless there’s a good reason”, you’ve probably established an oral employment contract. Even a casual conversation can be the basis for an oral employment contract, which means that employers have to be very careful what they say.

Courts are willing to uphold oral contracts, even ones based on limited conversations. For example (1) During an interview, if an employer promises that the applicant will only be fired if he or she doesn’t do the job well, then an oral employment contract is created. (2) During an evaluation, if a supervisor gives the employee feedback that “we expect you’ll have a long career here if you keep up the good work”, then an oral employment contract is created.

Implied contracts overlap with oral contracts, where a conversation can be the basis for an implied contract. Implied contracts, as their name suggests, aren’t express contracts, but rather come about through implication and suggestion. Does the employee handbook state that once employees have worked at the company for 3 months, they become “permanent” employees? If so, this may create an implied employment contract. What about the employer almost never fires employees unless they simply aren’t doing their job well? An employee relies on this established practice and honestly believes that he’ll only be fired for not doing his job. This may create an implied employment contract.

Implied contracts without some sort of oral promise however, are less likely to be found by a court. As long as you don’t promise your employees job security, it is unlikely a court will find an implied employment contract without some further effort on the employer’s part.

Make Sure You Have Good Cause and You Have It Documented

If an employee does have an employment contract, express, implied, oral or written, then generally you must have “good cause” to fire the employee. Good cause generally means that the reason for firing the employee is based on purely business needs. Here are some of things the may constitute “good cause” –

• Low productivity
• Poor work performance
• General insubordination
• Violating company rules
• Threats of violence
• Illegal acts
• Harassment
• Dishonesty
• Habitual lateness
• Excessive absences
• Endangering coworkers
• Consistently disrupting the workplace

In addition to good cause, employment contracts generally require the employer to act in good faith and deal fairly with the employee. This requirement is generally referred to as the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. To breach this covenant however, an employer generally has to be a pretty bad apple for a court to find a breach of the covenant. Does the employer fire an employee to avoid paying them retirement benefits? Does the employer fire an employee to avoid paying a sales commission? Does the employer fabricate evidence of an employee’s performance to justify firing the employee?

In other words, an employer has to be blatantly dishonest before courts will find a breach to the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

Employer Lawyer Free Consultation

When you need help with firing or contract review for your business, please call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael Anderson

People who want a lot of Bull go to a Butcher. People who want results navigating a complex legal field go to a Lawyer that they can trust. That’s where I come in. I am Michael Anderson, an Attorney in the Salt Lake area focusing on the needs of the Average Joe wanting a better life for him and his family. I’m the Lawyer you can trust. I grew up in Utah and love it here. I am a Father to three, a Husband to one, and an Entrepreneur. I understand the feelings of joy each of those roles bring, and I understand the feeling of disappointment, fear, and regret when things go wrong. I attended the University of Utah where I received a B.A. degree in 2010 and a J.D. in 2014. I have focused my practice in Wills, Trusts, Real Estate, and Business Law. I love the thrill of helping clients secure their future, leaving a real legacy to their children. Unfortunately when problems arise with families. I also practice Family Law, with a focus on keeping relationships between the soon to be Ex’s civil for the benefit of their children and allowing both to walk away quickly with their heads held high. Before you worry too much about losing everything that you have worked for, before you permit yourself to be bullied by your soon to be ex, before you shed one more tear in silence, call me. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.

See Full Bio