Wrongful Discharge “The doctrine of employment-at-will is firmly embedded in the common law of Oklahoma. Under this doctrine, an employee with an employment contract of indefinite duration is at liberty to leave his or her employment for any reason or no reason without incurring liability to the employer. Notions of fundamental fairness underlie the concept of mutuality that extends a corresponding freedom to the employer. Thus, under the employment-at-will doctrine an employer is also at liberty to fire an at-will employee for any reason or no reason, without incurring liability to the employee.” However, Oklahoma courts did fashion a common law solution when employers attempt to disregard the letter and purpose of the law. In Burk v. K-Mart Corp., 1998 OK 22, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma held that, “An employer may be held liable when a termination violates a clear mandate of public policy. Courts determine what a clear mandate … Continue reading →