Fireable

Fireable is an English adjective describing something that could justify termination from employment. In workplace contexts, a behavior, performance issue, or offense may be described as fireable if it meets the threshold set by a company’s policy for discharge. The term is informal and most commonly used in American English; formal alternatives include terminable, dismissible, or grounds for dismissal.

The term is formed from the verb fire (to discharge from a job) plus the suffix -able. Spelling variants include fireable and fire-able; although usage varies by style guide, fireable is widely understood in business writing.

Usage: Fireable offenses include serious misconduct, repeated policy violations, theft, or gross negligence, depending on the employer’s policy manual. The label implies the offense could warrant immediate or scheduled termination, subject to disciplinary procedures and due process where applicable.

Legal context: Employment law varies by jurisdiction. In many places, at-will employment allows an employer to terminate for any non-prohibited reason, including a fireable offense. Employers must avoid illegal motives (e.g., discrimination or retaliation), and many workplaces rely on progressive discipline alongside clear written policies to justify firing.

Limitations: The term is informal and can be seen as judgment-laden. In formal HR or legal writing, it is common to describe the specific policy violation and the resulting disciplinary action rather than labeling the offense as fireable.

See also: Termination, Dismissal, At-will employment, Employment policy.