Matthews v. Park Bros.

Citations

• 146 Pa. 384
• 23 A. 208
• 1892 Pa. LEXIS 1236

Syllabus

<p>1. An employer may not, without cause, discharge an employee who has contracted to serve for a specified term; but, where there is any misconduct inconsistent with the relation of master and servant, the master has an undoubted right at any time to put an end to the contract, and what is sufficient reason for dismissal is a question of law for the court.</p> <p>2. A trifling injury to the employer’s property, the result of an accident or a single act of negligence on the part of the employee, might not Warrant the latter’s dismissal; but, for a wilful disobedience by the employee of a lawful order, the employer has a right to dismiss, even though he can show no actual loss resulting to him therefrom.</p> <p>3. When an employee is lawfully discharged for wilful disobedience of orders which the employer had a right to give, the discharge ends the contract relation and the employee’s right to receive wages for the remainder of the term. It is error, in such case, to charge that the employee may recover wages for the full term, less such damages as the employer has suffered.</p>