A legal action taken by a former employee against a previous employer, alleging that the discharge was in violation of state or federal antidiscrimination laws, public policy, or an implied contract, agreement, or written promise.

• A. Resignation
• B. Layoff
• C. Constructive dismissal
• D. Wrongful discharge

Answer: (D)

Wrongful discharge is the legal action an employee takes when termination violates laws or contracts. This claim covers situations where the firing breaches state or federal anti-discrimination statutes (like race, gender, age protections), violates public policy (for example, firing someone for filing a workers’ comp claim or whistleblowing), or breaches an implied contract or written promise of ongoing employment (such as a personnel policy or contract term that creates a reasonable expectation of continued work).

Resignation and layoff describe how employment ends rather than the legal claim itself, and constructive dismissal refers to a scenario where the employee feels forced to resign because of the employer’s conduct; the wrongful-discharge claim, not those terms, is the action filed to challenge an improper termination.