Match the judicial exceptions to employment at will as a matter of state law (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Drag and drop application. Public policy exceptions Public policy exceptions drop zone empty. Exceptions related to implied and/or explicit promises Exceptions related to implied and/or explicit promises drop zone empty. Exceptions related to retaliatory discharge cases Exceptions related to retaliatory discharge cases drop zone empty. When an employer has assured not to terminate an employee except for unsatisfactory job performance or other good cause, the courts will insist that the employer carry out that assurance. An employee may not be fired because he or she refuses to commit an illegal act, such as price fixing or perjury. Employees are allowed to seek damages for outrageous acts related to termination, including character defamation