What Does It Really Mean to Be in a Right to Work State?
In a Right to Work state an employee's employment is at the will or whim of the employer unless there is a contract such as an individual Employment Agreement or a union Collective Bargaining Agreement. That is technically correct, but widely misunderstood in its practical application. Among my liberal friends this is a controversial topic. The idea that in a Right to Work state an employee can be fired for any reason at any time is unconscionable and violates the dignity of the worker. For my conservative friends who run businesses there is no controversy: they believe the law entitles them to make any decision they choose. Both are wrong. At the heart of this misunderstanding is one huge exception to Right to Work: it does not apply to state or federal discrimination or harassment laws . These laws are the majority of risk in employment. While retaining or terminating an employee may be at the complete discretion of the employer, if that discret...