Charlottesville Divorce Lawyer: Dentist Husband Could Legally Fire Dental Assistant After Wife Demanded Firing Because Dental Assistant Was Irresistible to Him.

The Iowa State Supreme Court ruled last week that a dentist could fire his long time dental assistant because she was too “irresistible” and a “threat” to her employer’s marriage.  The dental assistant was fired after the dentist’s wife discovered her husband and the dental assistant were flirting and demanded the dental assistant’s firing.  I post this only because work place romances where at least one of the spouses is married frequently result in marital problems and even divorce.  And yes, innocent spouses do get involved when a couple is concentrating on saving the relati…onship rather than ending it.  Sometimes the innocent spouse will demand a work related change.  The offending spouse may have to switch departments or switch office locations.  Occasionally, the innocent spouse will propose that the offending spouse switch jobs.  In this case, the innocent spouse requested a more radical course of action that her husband decided to take.  The offending spouse in this case, a dentist, fired the dental assistant with whom he was flirting after his wife demanded the firing.  This court determined that the dentist was within his rights to fire his dental assistant, but the decision is a controversial one.  It must be taken with a grain of salt.  It is the decision of only one state court.  I’m not sure if the dentist’s action would be appropriate in other state (or federal) courts for that matter for an offending spouse to take this action.  When an offending spouse is presented with this issue, he or she would consult with a divorce attorney and an employment attorney for that matter to make sure an expensive misstep isn’t made when his or her marriage hangs in the balance.

-Rob Hagy, Charlottesville Divorce Lawyer.

For more information call me at (434)293-4562 or email me at rob@robhagylaw.com.