A cause of action employee may have against an employer for illegal termination of employment.

• A. Wrongful discharge
• B. Employment at will
• C. Common-law system
• D. Independent contractor

Answer: (A)

Wrongful discharge is the claim an employee uses when termination violates law, a contract, or public policy. Even though many workplaces follow at-will employment, meaning either party can end the relationship for any legal reason, a discharge becomes wrongful if it breaches a contract (written or implied) or violates protections like anti-discrimination laws or whistleblower protections. That’s why this is the appropriate cause of action.

The notion of at-will describes the default relationship, not a specific suit. The common-law system is the broader legal framework that encompasses such doctrines, but it isn’t itself a wrongful-discharge claim. An independent contractor isn’t an employee and isn’t typically a wrongful-discharge plaintiff, though misclassification can raise separate issues.