On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 21:56:11 -0400, "Kyle Boatright"
wrote:


"Martin Hotze" wrote in message
...
"Casey Wilson" N2310D @ gmail.com wrote:

The only thing I see
that might have been unethical was the horsesh... feathers about signing
a
voluntary termination note. That released the employer from any
obligation
for paying unemployment benefits. While it may have been unethical, it
was
NOT illegal.

not knowing the US system: what would have been the outcome if he refused
to sign the letter? He would have been fired with the same outcome (but
with unemployment benefits).


Many (most?) states in the US allow professional employees to be terminated
without cause and without recourse by the employee. However, the employee
can still make the claim that he/she was improperly terminated (age,
religion, sex, etc.) and can sue the ex-employer. Even if the employee
loses in court, there can still be substantial legal expenses for the
employer, and there is always the chance that the ex-employee will win in
court.

I don't think that's necessarily what they're talking about here. If
presented correctly, this is a case of "We don't want you any more, so
sign this document which states that you resign, clean out your desk
and leave", not "your services are no longer required, thanks, go
home". Since the employee didn't resign at all but were released by
the company, is it legal for the company to make them sign
documentation stating that the employee initiated the severance, and
why would they create a paper trail in which it would appear the
employee quit rather than the employer initiating a staff reduction or
reorganization in the first place?