Fired for refusing a longer commute?
I would rather be laid off than fired due to the resulting benifits. If my company moves and creates a 30 minute longer commute for me (each way) can I be fired for refusing to work at the new location? Again being laid off is acceptable but being fired for cause would not be. I am an office worker at this location for 5 years.
1 answer | asked Sep 9, 2004 1:35 PM [EST] | applies to Arizona
Answers (1)
At will employee can be fired for anything (almost)
I assume that, like most employees in the private sector, you do not have a written contract or a collective bargaining agreement that protects you from at will termination. This means that your employer doesn't need a reason to terminate your employment. If they did, your refusal to report to work at the new location would probably be adequate cause to terminate you or to consider your refusal a voluntary resignation. You also seem to be laboring under the misconception that an employer must pay severance when laying off employees. This is not the law. It is customary to pay severance to laid off employees in return for a release from liability, but there is no legal entitlement to severance.
posted by Francis Fanning | Sep 13, 2004 12:21 AM [EST]
I assume that, like most employees in the private sector, you do not have a written contract or a collective bargaining agreement that protects you from at will termination. This means that your employer doesn't need a reason to terminate your employment. If they did, your refusal to report to work at the new location would probably be adequate cause to terminate you or to consider your refusal a voluntary resignation. You also seem to be laboring under the misconception that an employer must pay severance when laying off employees. This is not the law. It is customary to pay severance to laid off employees in return for a release from liability, but there is no legal entitlement to severance.
posted by Francis Fanning | Sep 13, 2004 12:21 AM [EST]
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