Opinion ID: 1265184
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: modification of 1989 employment agreement

Text: As an alternate ground, the Master ruled that, even if the 1989 Employment Agreement was valid, it was subsequently modified by PYA's oral assurances and its act of issuing King a First Warning in May 1990. We agree. The general rule is that a written contract may be modified by oral agreement even when the contract expressly states all changes must be in writing. Evatt v. Campbell, 234 S.C. 1, 106 S.E.2d 447 (1959); Lazer Construction Company, Inc., v. Long, 296 S.C. 127, 370 S.E.2d 900 (Ct.App.1988); 17A AmJur Contracts § 527 (1991); 17A C.J.S. Contracts, § 377 (1963). Although South Carolina law has not applied this rule in the context of employment contracts, it has recognized that conditions in an employment contract may be waived. Leahy v. Starflo, supra (actions of employer susceptible to inference that employer intended to waive disclaimer); Johnson v. American Ry. Exp. Co., 163 S.C. 191, 161 S.E. 473 (1931) (employer altered the at-will status by entering into an agreement with Union); Hendrix v. Eastern Distribution, ___ S.C. ___, 446 S.E.2d 440 (Ct.App.1994) (at-will status altered by employer's assurances to employee that she would not be discharged to avoid paying employee her commissions); Bookman v. Shakespeare Co., ___ S.C. ___, 442 S.E.2d 183 (1994) (employee's at-will status limited by employer's sexual harassment policy). On May 30, 1990, during the period the 1989 Employment Agreement was in effect, PYA gave King a First Warning, for not turning in collections within Company guidelines due to negligence and unorganized work habits. The warning was issued on an Employee Notice form taken from PYA's Manual. At the time he received this warning, King was told it was the first of a three warning reprimand and that he would be notified of any other warnings. [2] PYA strongly challenges King's testimony concerning the warnings. However, this was a finding of fact to be reached by the Master. His finding is amply supported by the record. See Townes, supra .