Fired

questions & answers

Question: The company I worked for had a no chase no confront policy. Can I be fired for defending myself after the suspect grabbed my wrist and threatened ?

Answer: It is important to look at the employment contract that has been agreed to. This contract should state the possible reasons that a person can be fired as well as whether the employee can be fired for certain actions. Normally this is all company policy. The specific set of facts in every case will determine the outcome of the case. Unlawful Termination is when an employee is fired for either a breach in the employment contract by the employer, the employer violates the law, or if the employer fires the employee out of retaliation (A.R.S. 23-1501). However, an employer cannot terminate an employee without legal justification and an employee cannot be terminated for invoking their legal rights. By Arizona law, self-defense is defined as a person threatening or using physical force against another when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect him/herself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful physical force. This force, however, is not justified if the person uses only verbal provocation, if resisting arrest, or if the person instigated the unlawful physical force (A.R.S. 13-404). To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, contact an attorney directly.