lucy24 - 9:05 am on Oct 2, 2012 (gmt 0)

Isn't it legal (California for example) to fire someone on the spot?

Yes, in the US it is legal to fire someone on a moment's notice. Like factory workers picking up their paychecks and finding an additional piece of paper that says "We won't be needing you any more".

But in some places-- including California-- you then have to be ready with their final paycheck within something like 24 hours. (Look it up. IANAL.) But if you make them mad, that gives them two weeks to storm out with an "I quit!" and then you're off the hook because they left before your notice ran out.

But in any case you're not personally, out of your own pocket paying their unemployment. (Uh... you have been paying into unemployment insurance haven't you? I though employers were required to. Like disability. Self-insurance is for huge companies with hundreds or thousands of workers.*) Unless it's just the principle that exasperates you.

not in the uk, warnings are a legal requirement for all.

Heh. You've probably still got banns too ;)


* Technically a "small business" is anything up to 50 employees, but to most people hereabouts that definition is probably just a bad joke.