At-will employment needs to be amended.

For those who don't know, "At-will employment" is the concept that an employer or employee can terminate employment for any reason, even no reason at all. It is common in 49 of 50 states.

Well, I think that needs to change.

Specifically, the part where employers have that liberty needs to be amended.

Here's what I have in mind:

Employees should still have the liberty to quit for any reason, including no reason at all.

Employers, however, should not have that liberty.

If an employer wants to terminate an employee, there needs to be a good reason and it has to be well-documented.

If you want to fire someone because "it's not working out," document how it's hindering business. Firing someone because you don't like their face should not be an acceptable reason.

If you want to lay someone off, provide financial statements and projections that show that if you take the jobs away from x amount of people, your financial situation will improve.

If you want to fire someone because they broke a rule, document the rule in the handbook and show sufficient evidence that said employee violated said rule, and document progressive discipline up to and including termination. In other words, barring egregious/illegal violations, one violation should not be grounds for termination. Verbal and written warnings need to be documented.

Here's what I propose:

1. All terminations are reviewed by the same state bureau that handles unemployment

2. When an employer terminates an employee, they need to fill out a form saying that employee was terminated, the reason, and supporting documentation.

3. The state bureau will review this paperwork. If they deem the termination and its documentation acceptable, the employee will collect unemployment, starting at full wages, and reduced by 1% each week.

Ex. an employee made $1,000/week
Week 1: 1000
Week 2: 990
Week 3: 980
etc.

HOWEVER, if the bureau does NOT deem the termination reason/documentation acceptable, then the employee will be reinstated and paid back wages.

You may be asking, "Why do you want it this way? The employer doesn't owe an employee a job."

You're right. However, the economic ramifications are miles apart for if an employer terminates an employee compared to if an employee quits.

If an employer terminates an employee, the employee's finances are very likely to take a hit, resulting in damaged credit, bankruptcy, foreclosure, etc.
Whereas if an employee quits, the employer posts a want ad on Indeed and the role is filled in a few weeks at no material loss to the employer.