What laws are in place to protect people from being fired?

Question

I am referring to people who do not do their jobs and maybe they got their jobs due to laws already in pleace?

If people are to be hired for their skills, why can they not be fired due to lack of skill or motivation in their jobs?

Answer 1

Unless your position is covered by a union contract, or a personal services contract, they can fire you for nearly any reason they want too.

The only exception is if you can prove racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., was the cause of the dismissal.

On the other hand, you can sue them for libel and/or slander depending on what they say about you to your next employer.

Answer 2

There are VERY few laws protecting people from getting fired.
In general a worker can be fired for "any reason or for no reason at all"[1]
The few protections that exist are civil rights act of 1964, TITLE VII. Which prohibits firing because of sex, race, religion etc...[2]
There is also common law tradition of not allowing firing for refusal to comply with an order to break the law. For example you cannot fire someone for refusing to lie to get off jury duty.

Otherwise the only other thing that can prevent an employer from firing an employee is the union contract. But the company has to voluntarily sign such contract, and they can still fire "for cause" bad job performance being a "good cause"

Answer 3

depends what state your in in an at will state they can be let go without any reason