What is wrongful termination in Indiana?

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Indiana adheres to a   strict at-will doctrine   with limited exceptions.    1. Frampton Public Policy Exception    Frampton v. Central Indiana Gas Co. , 260 Ind. 249 (1973), is the leading case — recognized a wrongful discharge tort for retaliation against an employee for filing a workers' comp claim. Indiana courts have been   reluctant to extend    Frampton  beyond similar statutory rights: - Filing or threatening to file a workers' comp claim. - Refusing to commit an illegal act ( McClanahan v. Remington Freight Lines , 517 N.E.2d 390 (Ind. 1988)). - Exercising a statutory right or duty.    2. Indiana Civil Rights Law — Ind. Code § 22-9-1   Prohibits discrimination based on   race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, age (40-75)  . Applies to employers with   6+ employees  . Enforced primarily through the   Indiana Civil Rights Commission  .   180 days   to file charge.  The Indiana Supreme Court has held that   there is no private right of action under ICRA   without ICRC referral ( Indiana Civil Rights Commission v. Sutherland Lumber , 394 N.E.2d 949). Most plaintiffs use federal Title VII, ADA, or ADEA.    3. Age Discrimination — Ind. Code § 22-9-2   Covers ages 40-75 (narrower than federal ADEA which has no upper limit).    4. Disability Discrimination   ICRA covers disability; federal ADA also applies.    5. Whistleblower for Public Employees — Ind. Code § 22-5-3-3   Protects state and local government employees.    6. Workers' Comp Retaliation — Frampton + Ind. Code § 22-3-2-15.1   Codifies  Frampton -style protections.    7. Implied Contract — No Recognition    Orr v. Westminster Village North , 689 N.E.2d 712 (Ind. 1997), reaffirmed Indiana's strict at-will rule and rejected handbook-based implied contracts absent specific contractual language.    8. WARN Act   Federal WARN applies.    9. Damages    Frampton  allows compensatory and   punitive damages   (uncapped under common law, but subject to general Indiana punitive damages cap of greater of $50,000 or 3x compensatory).    10. Statute of Limitations   -  Frampton  tort:   2 years   (Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4). - ICRA: 180 days to ICRC. - Federal Title VII (Indiana is deferral): 300 days to EEOC.  This is legal information, not legal advice.