Opinion ID: 155083
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Public Policy Exceptions to At-Will Employment

Text: 18 Finally, Ms. Richmond argues that her discharge was in violation of public policy. Oklahoma law recognizes an exception to the at-will employment relationship when the discharge is contrary to a clear mandate of public policy as articulated by constitutional, statutory or decisional law. Burk, 770 P.2d at 28. The Burk exception to at-will employment, however, is a narrow one, and is to be tightly circumscribed. Id. at 28-29. Ms. Richmond claims that her discharge was in violation of the public policies expressed in FLSA, FMLA, and state whistleblowing protections. The district court held that her discharge was not contrary to a clear mandate of Oklahoma public policy. 19 With respect to Ms. Richmond's Burk claims based on FLSA and FMLA, we have already held that she has no claim under either of those acts. Even if she had valid claims under those acts, however, this circuit has already ruled that Burk claims must have their basis in Oklahoma state law, McKenzie v. Renberg's, Inc., 94 F.3d 1478, 1487 (10th Cir.1996), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 1468, 137 L.Ed.2d 682 (1997). Ms. Richmond has failed to produce, nor have we found, any Oklahoma law which would apply FLSA or FMLA to Ms. Richmond's situation. Moreover, even if there were such a law, we note that Ms. Richmond's Burk claim might still be barred if that law provided adequate remedies. See List v. Anchor Paint Mfg. Co., 910 P.2d 1011, 1013-14 (Okla.1996). 20 We similarly reject Ms. Richmond's claim that Oklahoma law provides an exception to at-will employment on the basis of her internal whistleblowing--that is, her reports to ONEOK's personnel office of her supervisor's illegal and unethical activity. This court has already held that there is no clear mandate of Oklahoma public policy against terminating employees for whistleblowing activity. Burk v. K Mart Corp., 956 F.2d 213, 214 (10th Cir.1991) (finding no clear mandate in Oklahoma law against termination for whistleblowing). 21 AFFIRMED.