When a Personnel Policy Manual has never been distributed to the Staff and binded?

Question

A personnel policy manual was never legally passed and being implemented at my work place. If it is being implemented and never ever distributed to staff. Would any terminations be legal, I feel when our work place went into debt only two of us were picked on. We were laid off due to budget but the bottom line is that a personnel policy manual was illegally being implemented without final lawyer approval or staff written a letter about it or even binded and presented/distributed to the employees. Can I sue over that manual, on what grounds? No smart remarks please.

What is the difference between lay off and termination of employment?

Answer 1

In theory, if you have not officially been given a copy, my layman's mind tells me that it cannot be used against you unless you have committed offences such as "stealing company property, physically fighting or assaulting someone at the workplace, insurbordination etc. which are fairly standard irrespective of whether you have been given a copy or not.

But practically I guess they can still use it against you if they can prove that they have informed you in other ways (verbal in the presence of witnesses etc) to your understanding the contents of the manual

Answer 2

Most states have "at will" employment laws so your employer can terminate you at any time for no reason at all and you can't sue. You might be eligible for unemployment benefits though since it was a lay off. Did they give you a separation notice? Were you employed for a full year? Then you probably qualify. Check it out & see.

Answer 3

as presented, your case isn't really clear. you should check with an expert on this, in an actual face-to-face meeting. it sounds like like there would be a lot of questions that need to be answered to determine your best direction.