Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

What is required for an employer to dismiss an employee according to labor principles?

1. Just cause

2. Mutual agreement

3. Employee request

4. Performance issues

The correct answer is: Just cause

The correct answer, which is based on labor principles, emphasizes the need for "just cause" when dismissing an employee. This principle is rooted in the idea that employees have certain rights and protections in the workplace, and termination should not occur arbitrarily or capriciously. "Just cause" implies that an employer must demonstrate a legitimate and well-documented reason for the dismissal, such as a violation of company policy, misconduct, or a failure to meet job expectations. This principle helps ensure fairness, promotes trust in the employer-employee relationship, and upholds the integrity of the workplace. In contrast, mutual agreement, while it might lead to termination in some cases, does not apply universally to all dismissals as not every situation involves an agreement between employer and employee. An employee request is also not a requirement for termination; an employee cannot unilaterally decide to be dismissed if the employer's reasons do not support it. Lastly, while performance issues can be a valid reason for termination, they are not sufficient on their own without being grounded in the concept of just cause, which requires consistency and fairness in how such issues are handled.