In the US, do you have laws protecting employees from unfair dismissal?

Question

In the UK, you have to have a fair reason for dismissal, be able to show that you followed a fair procedure and carried out a proper investigation into all the circumstances. Employees can also sue for what's called 'constructive dismissal', that is, where they are entitled to walk out and consider themself unfairly dismissed by virtue of their employer's behaviour. Is this the same in the US?

Answer 1

I don't like how private businesses in the US have to have a reason to fire someone.

Answer 2

They can fire you, but you can sue for wrongful termination. Often there needs to be a paper trail of complaints, bad evaluations, etc., to prove to human resources dept. that this person can be fired without risking a lawsuit.

Answer 3

No... not unless you are part of some socialist labor union and your union contract specifically states what must happen for you to be fired.... which usually amounts to some GROSS inaction just shy of those of Joseph Stalin or Adolph Hitler.

American states are largely "at will" states.  Which means you can be fired "at will" so long as your dismissal is not predicated upon one of the protected categories, such as  religion, race, gender, or sexual perversion.