Add Comment Question: can you be terminated a year after a altercation with another employee Answer: Thanks for the question. Ultimately, an employer can dismiss an employee for any reason, as long as the reason isn't discriminatory and as long as the employee is paid the proper amount of severance. If an employer terminates and employee without pay, due to an altercation that happened a year ago, that employee is likely owed severance, although we would need to know more before giving a definitive answer. Use our Severance Pay Calculator to find out how much you may be owed, and then give us a call at the number below to set up a confidential consultation with one of our experienced employment lawyers. Your Comment * Your Email * Your Name * Your City Note, your name, city and email is not displayed on the website. It is used to notify you that we have approved your comment.