Can your ex employer sue you?

Question

Say you didn't show up for work anymore, and you never called. Can your employer sue you for job abandonment?

Answer 1

"At will" employment means if you want to quit, or your employer wants to fire you, either can do it without cause and have no repercussions (assuming there is no employment contract to the contrary). There may be exceptions in your state. Go here for them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will
In any case, an employer will not generally sue or have such right without proof of a contract (that generally is shown on a written employment contract).
If there is no written contract, call your state's employment division, and double check that you are an at will state, and you should have no problems if that is the case, unless your conduct violates the exceptions noted in the website above.
Even with a written contract, your employer will almost never be allowed to ask for 'specific performance' meaning forcing you to work, bc that is in effect a form of slavery.
Finally, if there is a written contract, you may be at least responsible for the employer's loss and damages in finding a replacement for you.
If you have a written contract, you may want to contact a local attorney to go over it with you for a relatively nominal fee and educate you on your rights and responsibilities under the agreement. You may want to check with an attorney in either case to find out what statutory or case law may apply to your situation as well.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Of course they can. When you hire on to a company there is a contract that you make with that company...it can be verbal or written, or implied. When you break a contract they have the right to sue you. Now, whether or not they are successful in their suit is another matter.
And in the future, don't do that. It makes for a really poor resume.

Answer 3

Not unless you had some sort of employment contract under which you had received a pre-payment (like a returnable signing bonus or pre-paid salaries or pre-paid commissions). And then they can only seek return of the pre-payment. Absent such conditions, "at will" runs both ways & employees have no obligation to remain employees (not since passage of the 13th Amendment prohibiting slavery)

Answer 4

Sure. To collect damages they would have to show that your actions caused them damages that would not have occurred had you quit without notice or that you violated a contract indicating you would work for a certain amount of time (as is common for relocation expenses and tuition reimbursement expenses)

Answer 5

Most wouldn't, but it is possible.

** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. **

Answer 6

That would depend highly upon the nature of the job and the contract you signed. It is possible, however not probable.

Answer 7

No, it would cost him/her more money in the long run, they'd just ruin your resume for a few years, which in turn would make you poor....

Answer 8

Depends if you signed a contract or not

Answer 9

depends on how liberal your state is, lol!

i dont imagine so, but it will be a big black smear on your resume (unless its a b.s. job and you dont plan on putting it on your resume anyway)

Answer 10

They can't sue you just fire you.