Is Virginia an employment at will state?

How does this work? Do you have to be repermanded for something more than once?

At Will

The courts of Virginia follow an "employment-at-will" doctrine. At-will employees may be terminated for any reason, so long as it is not illegal. Generally, employees who work under an employment contract can only be terminated for reasons specified in the contract. However, in Virginia, the mere fact that an employment contract is in writing is not sufficient to overcome the presumption that the employment is at-will. To overcome this presumption, an employment contract must directly limit, in a meaningful and special way, the employer's right to terminate the employee without cause. In other words, the employer has to unequivocally indicate that it will not terminate the employee except under specific circumstances.

Employee Handbooks

While an employer is not required by law to have an employee handbook, in most cases, it is recommended. An employee handbook provides a centralized, complete and certain record of the employer's policies and procedures. An employee handbook also provides more convenient access by employees and managers.

At a minimum, an employee handbook should include:

A statement regarding the at-will employment relationship
An equal employment opportunity statement
A policy regarding sexual and other types of harassment in the workplace
Internet access, e-mail, and voice mail policies
The Family Medical Leave Act
The laws regarding an employer鈥檚 duties and responsibilities arising under an employee handbook are complex, and a licensed attorney should be contacted to review individual circumstances.


You can find an official state document here: http://www.law.virginia.edu/pells/giflib...


This page lists exceptions that states participate in -- Virginia participates in one out of three:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/01/art1...

Last question first, if you murdered the boss do you really believe a reprimand for a previous murder would be necessary anywhere? First question is yes. Under employment at will an employer can generally fire/discharge you for any or no reason with some limitations for illegal reasons such as race. See http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/01/art1... or
http://research.lawyers.com/Virginia/Emp...