Case questions in the picture.

Ray Palmateer had worked for International Harvester (IH) for 16 years at the time of his discharge. Palmateer sued IH for retaliatory discharge, claiming that he was terminated because he supplied information to local law enforcement authorities regarding a co-worker's criminal activities and for offering to assist in the investigation and trial of the co-worker if necessary. Simon, J. one favoring the effective protection of the lives and property of citizens. [The court discusses the history of the tort of retalia- No specific constitutional or statutory provision retory discharge in Illinois and explains that the law will quires a citizen to take an active part in the ferreting out not support the termination of an at-will employment and the prosecution of crime, but public policy nevertherelationship where the termination would contravene less favors citizen crime-fighters. Public policy favors public policy.] But the Achilles heel of the principle Palmater's conduct in volunteering information to the lies in the definition of public policy. When a discharge law enforcement agency. Palmateer was under a statutory contravenes public policy in any way, the employer has duty to further assist officials when requested to do so. committed a legal wrong. However, the employer re- The foundation of the tort of retaliatory discharge tains the right to fire workers at will in cases "where no lies in the protection of public policy, and there is a clear clear mandate of public policy is involved." : public policy favoring investigation and prosecution of There is no precise definition of the term. In general, criminal offenses. Palmateer has stated a cause of action it can be said that public policy concerns what is right for retaliatory discharge. and just and what affects the citizens of the State collec- tively. It is to be found in the State's constitution and Questions statutes and, when they are silent, in its judicial deci- 1. Is there a difference between the court's protection sions. Although there is no precise line of demarcation of an employee who reports a rape by a co-worker dividing matters that are the subject of public policies or the theft of a car, and an employee who is confrom matters purely personal, a survey of cases in other stantly reporting the theft of the company's paper States involving retaliatory discharge shows that a matclips and pens? ter must strike at the heart of a citizen's social rights, du- 2. Should the latter employee in the above question be ties, and responsibilities before the tort will be allowed. protected? Consider that the court in Palmateer reIt is clear that Palmateer has here alleged that he marked that "the magnitude of the crime is not the issue was fired in violation of an established public policy. here. It ws the General Assembly who decided that the There is no public policy more basic, nothing more im- theft of a $2 screwdriver was a problem that should be plicit in the concept of ordered liberty than the enforce- resolved by resort to the criminal justice system." ment of a State's criminal code. There is no public 3. What are other areas of public policy that might policy more important or more fundamental than the offer protection to terminated workers? Ray Palmateer had worked for International Harvester (IH) for 16 years at the time of his discharge. Palmateer sued IH for retaliatory discharge, claiming that he was terminated because he supplied information to local law enforcement authorities regarding a co-worker's criminal activities and for offering to assist in the investigation and trial of the co-worker if necessary. Simon, J. one favoring the effective protection of the lives and property of citizens. [The court discusses the history of the tort of retalia- No specific constitutional or statutory provision retory discharge in Illinois and explains that the law will quires a citizen to take an active part in the ferreting out not support the termination of an at-will employment and the prosecution of crime, but public policy nevertherelationship where the termination would contravene less favors citizen crime-fighters. Public policy favors public policy.] But the Achilles heel of the principle Palmater's conduct in volunteering information to the lies in the definition of public policy. When a discharge law enforcement agency. Palmateer was under a statutory contravenes public policy in any way, the employer has duty to further assist officials when requested to do so. committed a legal wrong. However, the employer re- The foundation of the tort of retaliatory discharge tains the right to fire workers at will in cases "where no lies in the protection of public policy, and there is a clear clear mandate of public policy is involved." : public policy favoring investigation and prosecution of There is no precise definition of the term. In general, criminal offenses. Palmateer has stated a cause of action it can be said that public policy concerns what is right for retaliatory discharge. and just and what affects the citizens of the State collec- tively. It is to be found in the State's constitution and Questions statutes and, when they are silent, in its judicial deci- 1. Is there a difference between the court's protection sions. Although there is no precise line of demarcation of an employee who reports a rape by a co-worker dividing matters that are the subject of public policies or the theft of a car, and an employee who is confrom matters purely personal, a survey of cases in other stantly reporting the theft of the company's paper States involving retaliatory discharge shows that a matclips and pens? ter must strike at the heart of a citizen's social rights, du- 2. Should the latter employee in the above question be ties, and responsibilities before the tort will be allowed. protected? Consider that the court in Palmateer reIt is clear that Palmateer has here alleged that he marked that "the magnitude of the crime is not the issue was fired in violation of an established public policy. here. It ws the General Assembly who decided that the There is no public policy more basic, nothing more im- theft of a $2 screwdriver was a problem that should be plicit in the concept of ordered liberty than the enforce- resolved by resort to the criminal justice system." ment of a State's criminal code. There is no public 3. What are other areas of public policy that might policy more important or more fundamental than the offer protection to terminated workers