Suter v. Harsco Corp.

NEELY, Justice.

In this appeal, we revisit the question of employee handbooks as implied contracts. In Cook v. Heck’s Inc., 176 W.Va. 368, 342 S.E.2d 453 (1986), we held that an employee handbook could modify an existing employment at will relationship and vest in the employee contractual rights to job security. In the case before us, we find it necessary to clarify the “employee handbook” exception to the presumptive employment at will relationship.

Harsco is the successor in interest to H.B. Reed Minerals, and operates a plant in Marshall County, West Virginia, where it produces stone…