North Carolina is an employment-at-will state. This means that an employee can be fired for no reason, for an arbitrary or for an irrational reason.
In the absence of a contractual agreement between an employer and an employee establishing a definite term of employment, the relationship is presumed to be terminable at the will of either party without regard to the quality of performance of either party.
There are exceptions to the “at-will” rule:
1. The employer and employees can remove the at-will presumption by contract, specifying a definite period of employment.
2. Federal and state statutes have created exceptions prohibiting employers from discharging employees based on impermissible considerations such as the employee’s age, race, sex, religion, national origin, or disability, or in retaliation for filing certain claims against the employer.
3. There is a public-policy exception to the employment-at-will rule which has created the “wrongful discharge” cause of action.
It is of the utmost importance to remember that if the employee does not fit within one of these exceptions, he or she can be fired for no reason, for an arbitrary or for an irrational reason.
