Question

Francis took a job at JobCo, Inc. She worked at the job for a year, and got a glowing review from Curtis her boss. In fact. Curtis went so far as to say that "the company could not function without Francis" and that "he would guarantee, on behalf of the company, that she would continue to have her same job with the company for the next two years." Based on this information, Francis puts a large downpayment on a house she's been wanting to buy and moves in Six months later, Francis is part of a major downsizing and laid off from JobCo. Without her job, she can no longer afford the house and the bank forecloses, costing Francis thousands in lost equity. If Francis is thinking about bringing an employment law suit against JobCo and Curtis: 1) What would be the baseline rule for employment law she would need to be aware of: AND 2) What employment law principal could help her make an argument she should be reimbursed by the company for the value of the home equity she lost? e At-Will Employment & Civil Rights Laws Promissory Estoppel & Civil Rights Laws O Promissory Estoppel & Disclaimer O At-Will Employment & Promissory Estoppel

Answer 1

At-will employment refers to the employees being at will of the employer. It states that the employee can be fired with or without any reason at the mere will of the employer. Only they cannot be fired by discriminating, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Civil Rights laws prohibits discrimination of any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. In this case, there was no discrimination that happened with Francis. Hence AT-will employment and Civil Rights Laws does not come into picture. Here, Francis was promised two years of employment with the current employer, hence Promissory Estoppel is the area of law that Francis needs to have knowledge about if she wants to bring a lawsuit on the employer. Disclaimer is basically a statement that denies a claim or responsibility in any scenario. The employer in any employment agreement can make a disclaimer regarding the firing of an employee, hence Francis should have a know-how regarding the same.