Is it ethical to fire an employee without giving him a reason?

[Patrick_Lahey]

For the past three years I was working under contract for a large Catholic non-governmental organization. When I was expecting my new contract to arrive, I was surprised to receive instead a terse notice that they would not be renewing my contract again. They did not give me any reason for the dismissal, and they refuse to respond to my several attempts to contact them, even though I have good reason to believe that my former colleagues and employers received the emails.

Their approach seems to me to be a violation of Catholic ethics: They have deprived me of something valuable without justifying their action, and they have demeaned my human dignity by not “dignifying” my request for information with an answer. But I’m not enough of a theologian to find any Church document that would explain the ethical ramifications. Can anyone out there help me find something? Since it is a Catholic organization, I am still hopeful that they would respond if I could express my appeal as their violation of ethics.

I put this question on a forum some time back, but the respondents generally defended the organization’s legal right. I don’t dispute their legal right, I just don’t think it’s ethical.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I am very sorry that you lost your job and pray that, if it hasn’t happened already, you’ll be able to find new employment soon. May St. Joseph the Worker intercede on your behalf.

To answer your question, and considering only ethics as you requested, sometimes it is useless and hurtful to explain reasons for otherwise justifiable actions. It also tends to inspire people to argue back when argument will not accomplish anything constructive. Suppose, for example, your former employer told you, “We just don’t have the money in the budget to fund all of the contracts we have, and so we decided not to renew yours.” That kind of explanation might be completely true and justifiable, but you might feel personally “targeted” and feel tempted to argue back that your position is more necessary and valuable than someone else’s, and besides, why don’t they get rid of someone else with less seniority? This kind of argument takes time; resources; and, when it’s not going to change anything, is useless and unconstructive.

I urge you to set aside your disappointment and move on. The Lord will provide you with something new and just as valuable (if not more so), if you trust in his faithfulness and generosity. God bless.