Dear Community Members,

I am writing to you not just from my own experience, but on behalf of countless Georgia workers whose lives have been disrupted, destabilized, and devalued under the state’s at-will employment law.

Under current law, an employer can terminate an employee at any time, without providing just cause. While discrimination and retaliation are prohibited under federal law, the at-will system creates cover for fabricated reasons, hidden bias, and retaliation to go unchecked. With the elimination of DEI initiatives under the current administration, there is a growing risk that underlying and systemic racial discrimination will go unchallenged, further deepening inequities in our workplaces.

I personally experienced this when I was terminated from my position in Georgia without cause. The reasons provided were fabricated, and I was told that, because of at-will employment, the employer didn’t even need to have a reason. Before my termination, I endured harassment and a hostile work environment, yet I had little protection and no substantial way to defend myself during unemployment determinations. This not only damaged my professional reputation but also created severe barriers to future employment opportunities.

The impact has been profound:

• Emotional and mental distress, including heightened anxiety and sleepless nights.
• Financial instability from the sudden loss of income, making it difficult to pay bills and support my family.
• Lasting harm to my career and reputation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sadly, my story is not unique. Many Georgia workers—across industries, backgrounds, and communities—are left vulnerable under this law. Families are destabilized, livelihoods destroyed, and workers stripped of their dignity without fair recourse.

We are calling for fair reform of Georgia’s at-will law to:

• Require employers to provide legitimate, documented reasons for termination.
• Establish protections to prevent fabricated allegations and retaliatory firings.
• Hold employers accountable while promoting fairness and stability for employees.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         By signing this petition, you are not only standing with me but also with every Georgia worker who deserves job security, dignity, and protection under the law. Together, we can urge our lawmakers to ensure that at-will does not mean at-whim.

Please join us in this fight for fairness by signing and sharing this petition.

Sincerely,
Doris Bridges
Organizer – Petition to Reform Georgia’s At-Will Law

Georgia’s at-will employment law (O.C.G.A. § 34-7-1) enables employers to terminate workers without any legitimate cause, leaving workers vulnerable to being fired on a whim or due to unjust factors such as biases or fabricated reasons. Many employees find themselves in situations where termination is not a reflection of their performance but a byproduct of workplace discrimination or personal vendettas. This system strips away workers' sense of job security and leaves them feeling powerless in the face of unfair practices.

As it stands, this legal framework places undue emotional and financial burdens on workers who already face uncertainty in their workplaces. When a job is abruptly taken away without due process or just reasoning, it perpetuates elements of emotional distress and financial difficulty.

We urge lawmakers in Georgia to take a stand for fair employment practices by reforming the at-will employment law. Establishing safeguards against wrongful termination and ensuring transparent criteria for dismissals will provide employees with much-needed protection and peace of mind. These measurements include clear, documented reasons for terminations, an appeals process for disputed firings, and stronger penalties against employers who violate these standards.

By updating these employment laws to reflect fairness and integrity, we can cultivate a more equitable workplace culture in Georgia, benefiting not just employees but also creating a fairer environment for all.

Please sign this petition to support necessary reforms in Georgia’s employment law and protect workers from unjust job loss and its far-reaching consequences.