Final answer:
An employment-at-will exception refers to when an employee is terminated for reasons not allowed under the employment-at-will doctrine. The exception in this case is an employee being fired for no stated reason.
Step-by-step explanation:
An employment-at-will exception refers to a situation where an employee is terminated from employment for reasons that are not typically allowed under the employment-at-will doctrine. Out of the given options, the exception is best illustrated by choice D: an employee is fired for no stated reason. In an at-will employment arrangement, employers generally have the right to terminate employees at any time, with or without cause, as long as the reason is not illegal.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if an employee is terminated in retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim (option A) or if they are terminated while on long-term disability leave (option C), it may constitute an exception to employment-at-will.
Choice B, where a candidate discusses salary range and job details with HR, does not represent an employment-at-will exception but rather a typical part of the hiring process.