At Will Employment law a danger to workers

Because of recent events in my life, I am writing this letter to bring attention to the potential dangers with Missouri’s At Will Employment law. I believe it is imperative the people of Missouri contact their state representatives and have this law repealed.

Around nine o’clock on the morning of Monday Dec. 3, 2018, I received a phone call from the Human Resources manager at the company where I worked. I was informed that due to a verbal altercation I had with a co-worker the Friday before, my presence at the company was now considered “a safety issue” and my employment terminated. After 14 years of providing the company with quality work and loyalty I was fired for an allegedly spurious “safety issue.”

Believing the actual reason for my dismissal was either my age (then 51) or a pre-existing medical condition, I contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and filed a wrongful termination complaint. On Feb. 15, 2019, the EEOC granted me the right to sue the company within the next ninety days.

However, there was a problem in filing my lawsuit. Every lawyer I contacted for assistance refused to represent me, stating that Missouri was an At Will employment state. What this means is unless an employee has a written contract with an employer, said employer can legally fire that employee without having to provide cause or reason.

Missouri’s At Will law is a danger to Missouri workers because it not only gives employers a potential avenue to circumvent discrimination laws but also leaves employees vulnerable to the personal whims and discretions of their employers. Please contact your state representatives and have them repeal Missouri’s At Will law. I cannot do it alone. I need your help. Thank you.

— Don R. ‘Phill’ Phillips
Poplar Bluff, Mo.