I reported my manager for a negative extreme change in his behavior and memory loss that resulted in major information technology risks. I was fired 8 hours after reporting him. Do I a right to sue for wrongful discharge?

There is an age-old expression, "When you shoot at the King, you better not miss." Pennsylvania is an at-will state in which you can be fired at any time for a good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all. Your boss could walk in on a random Wednesday and tell you "we've decided someone has to be fired today, and it's you" and there's not a thing you can do about it.

You *cannot* be terminated in violation of a "public policy," which PA courts have interpreted generally to mean "legislative enactment." As a result, you can't be fired usually because of your sex, race, age (over 40), religion, national origin, or perceived, actual or record of disability.

In the case you set up, you "reported" your boss to his boss. Legally, nothing wrong with that. Politically, that was perhaps a little less savvy. Generally "going out of bounds" is often why someone loses a job. It's not fair. It's not right, but it's not illegal.

posted by Harold Goldner  |  Mar 17, 2017 1:13 PM [EST]