Johnston v. William E. Wood & Assocs., Inc.

OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH

**224 More than 100 years ago, we held that when an employment contract does not specify a time period for its duration, "either party is ordinarily at liberty to terminate it at-will on giving reasonable notice of his intention to do so." Stonega Coal & Coke Co. v. Louisville & Nashville R.R. Co. , 106 Va. 223 , 226, 55 S.E. 551 , 552 (1906) (emphasis added). Brenda Johnston, who was discharged without advance notice, argues that "reasonable notice" includes a temporal component, i.e., the notice must be provided at some reasonable time before the…