Employment Agreements and Fraud

Employees in California are generally “at-will.” This means that the employment relationship can be terminated at the election of either the employee or employer for almost any reason or for no reason. However, employers that enter into written contracts with their employees will generally be obligated to comply with the terms of the written agreement and to treat the employee fairly and in good faith. Employers that trick their employees into employment relationships that the employee never bargained for may be liable to the employee for fraudulent inducement of employment (fraud/misrepresentation). This often arises when an employee moves a great distance or quits a job at the invitation of a prospective employer and then is afforded less compensation and different job duties than the prospective employer originally promised.