Employees who believe that their employment was wrongfully terminated may file suit against employers based on such claims as violation of federal or state anti-discrimination or other employee protection statutes, breach of an employment contract, or state common-law exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine.

Liability under any of these can be costly to an employer, and costs incurred in defending against lawsuits can be exorbitant.  Taking proactive steps to avoid lawsuits can benefit both employers and employees.