Being terminated for a cause indicates that there was an underlying reason for the termination of an individual’s employment. In many states, employers are not required to provide a cause (at-will employment). However, many employers choose to do so regardless. In other states, employers are obliged by law to provide a cause for termination. Causes must speak to an employee’s failure to do something or did something that caused risk or harm to the employer or other employees, and that action (or inaction) must violate a lawful workplace policy or a state/federal law.