Wrongful firing in violation of public policy - An empirically based model of the process

Wrongful firings in violation of public policy have received inadequate attention from managers and researchers. Such firings involve ethical issues, including employees fired for refusing to engage in wrongdoing, reporting organizational wrongdoing, or exercising a legal right or duty. We develop a model of the wrongful firing in violation of public policy process, based on our qualitative analysis of 63 legal cases. The model specifies that these firings arise when managers confuse an organizational problem with the employee who raises the issue. Management either fires the employee immediately or Labels the employee a "deviant," often harassing or pressuring the employee to conform and then firing the employee when he or she does not comply. We outline ways researchers can test and extend our model, and we offer specific recommendations for managers interested in preventing firings in violation of public policy.