May 15, 2004

Dan Seligman writes an intriguing piece about at-will employment, the value it presents to an economy, attempts to have exceptions swallow the rule, and the irony of the New York Times invoking it in a recent employment dispute. ("The Right to Fire", Forbes, Nov. 10 (registration required)). One of Governor Gray Davis's departing gifts to California taxpayers was his signing of SB 578, an end to at-will employment for government contractors (on pain of criminal prosecution), which will manifest itself in increased litigation expenses and transaction costs. (Kathy Robertson, "New laws reshape workplace", Sacramento Business Journal, Oct. 20).

[cross-posted from Overlawyered, where it ran Nov. 9, 2003]