It is the policy of the Mississippi State Port Authority that
all supervisors and other employees who do not have separate individual written
contracts with the MSPA for a specific, fixed term of employment are employed
at the will of MSPA for an indefinite period. Supervisors and employees may
resign from MSPA at any time, for any reason, and may be terminated by MSPA at
any time for any reason, or no reason, and with or without notice. This "at
will" employment policy applies equally to all MSPA employees, including
supervisors.
A. Employees who do not
have a separate individual written employment contract are employed at-the-will
of the MSPA and are subject to termination at any time for any reason or no
reason, with or without cause or notice. At the same time, such employees may
terminate their employment at any time and for any reason.
B. The Board of Commissioners may give
authorization to the Executive Director to modify terms and conditions of
employment with MSPA.
C. This
policy shall not be modified by any other employee hand-books, employment
applications, MSPA memorandum, or other materials provided to employees in
connection with their employment. None of these documents, regularly,
singularly, or combined, shall create an express or implied contract of
employment for a definite period. Nor shall they be an express or implied
contract concerning any terms or conditions of employment, nor a guarantee of
continuation of any benefits.
D. At
the time of hiring or at the time this personnel manual is implemented,
whichever date is earlier, employees shall be required to sign a written
statement acknowledging the understanding that they are employed at the will of
MSPA and are subject to termination at any time, for any reason, with or
without notice, and with or without cause.
E. Completion of a probationary period or
conferral of regular status shall not change an employee's status as an
employee-at-will or in any way restrict MSPA's right to terminate such an
employee, nor change the terms or conditions of employment.
F. Nothing contained in this manual,
employment application, MSPA memorandums or other materials provided to
employees in connection with their employment shall require MSPA to have "just
cause" to terminate that employee or otherwise restrict MSPA's right to
terminate an employee at any time or for any reason. Statements of specific
grounds for termination set forth in the manual or elsewhere are not all
inclusive and are not intended to restrict MSPA's right to terminate at will.
