WRONGFUL DISMISSAL - ARBITRATION AND THE LAW

If the terms of employment aren't covered by contract, an employee's f ate may hinge on the ''employment-at-will'' doctrine. Under the doctri ne, employment relationships can generally be terminated ''for good ca use, for no cause, or even for a bad cause'' by either party. Fortunat ely, many employees would say, this unfettered employer prerogative to dismiss at will employees has been eroded through court rulings in mo st states, though considerable uncertainty about employer/employee rig hts remains on both sides. Arbitration under wrongful dismissal legisl ation may be the answer.