HB 6186 Summary

• Establishes the "Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act" prohibiting employers from wrongfully discharging employees without just cause after a probationary period not exceeding 6 months.

• Defines "just cause" as reasonable job-related grounds for dismissal based on failure to perform duties, disruption of operations, or legitimate business reasons, with specified factors required to determine its existence.

• Prohibits discharge in retaliation for employee refusal to violate public policy or for reporting public policy violations, and prohibits discharge for violation of employer's own written personnel policies without just cause.

• Allows employees to pursue civil damages within 2 years or file complaints with the Department of Labor within 1 year, with potential recovery of lost wages, fringe benefits, and punitive damages in retaliation cases.

• Applies to all employers with one or more employees, with exceptions for employees under valid collective bargaining agreements providing just cause protections and prohibition on waiving employee rights under the act.