Opinion ID: 1244563
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: oral representations

Text: As to Hillie's arguments regarding oral representations, we have ruled that oral representations may, standing alone, constitute a promise sufficient to create contractual terms which could modify the at-will status of an employee. See Hebard v. AT & T, 228 Neb. 15, 421 N.W.2d 10 (1988). In this case, Hillie testified in his deposition that he expected his job at Mutual to last as long as he wanted or until he messed up. He stated that he assumed he could and would work at Mutual for at least 3 years. However, he conceded that no one from Mutual ever told him this. An employee's subjective understanding of job security is insufficient to establish an implied contract of employment to that effect. Johnston v. Panhandle Co-op Assn., 225 Neb. 732, 408 N.W.2d 261 (1987). Cf. Cimino v. W.A. Piel, Inc., 227 Neb. 196, 416 N.W.2d 505 (1987) (finding that an employee's subjective understanding that he had a right to an accrued salary account was insufficient to establish his entitlement to that account). Hillie failed to produce any evidence, other than his own subjective assumptions, to support his claim that Mutual officials made any oral representations or assurances regarding the duration of his employment or the circumstances under which his employment could be terminated.