Question

Interactive Data Corp. hired Foley as an assistant product manager, and over the next six years, Interactive steadily promoted him. Interactive officers repeatedly told Foley that he would have his job as long as his performance was adequate. They also distributed an employee handbook that specified termination guidelines that included a mandatory seven-step pre-termination procedure. Foley learned that his supervisor was under investigation by the FBI, and he told Interactive officers. Shortly thereafter, Interactive fired Foley. He sued, claiming that Interactive could fire him only for good cause after the seven-step procedure. Who wins?

Answer 1

Foley will probably win because he didn't do anything wrong, and he had an implied employment contract with Interactive that stated that he could be fired only after a seven step pre-termination procedure. The handbook guidelines that were given to Foley represent the implied contract, and management assured him that that his performance was adequate.