Hewlett-Packard has an employee manual called The H-P Way that states the corporate philosophy of "belief in people." The manual stated the company goal "to provide job security based on their [employees'] performance." The manual stated on its first page that its contents did not present a contract and that it was intended only for distribution among managers. The manual described a discipline process.
The company did not follow the process set forth in the manual when it terminated Orbach, and the at-will employee sued H-P for wrongful termination. Did the discipline process set forth in the manual have a limiting effect on Orbach's at-will employment status and bar H-P from terminating him without following the procedures? Decide.
[Orbach v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 97 F.3d 429 (10th Cir.)]