Golden v. County of Union

**Golden v. County of Union: Prosecutor's Office Employee Manual Case** This case involved an assistant prosecutor who was fired by the County of Union Prosecutor's Office. The employee argued that the office had to follow specific procedures outlined in their employee manual before terminating him, claiming these procedures created a contract that protected his job. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled against the employee. The court determined that prosecutors have a legal right under state law to fire assistant prosecutors at any time for any reason (called "at-will" employment). The court said this statutory right cannot be limited by procedures written in an employee manual, meaning no binding contract was created between the employer and employee. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling is significant because it shows that employee manuals don't always create enforceable job protections. Even if your workplace handbook outlines specific disciplinary procedures, these may not guarantee you'll receive that process before being fired. This is especially true in jobs where state law already gives employers broad firing powers. Workers should understand that employee manual policies may be viewed as guidelines rather than binding promises, particularly in at-will employment situations.