I worked for a company for two years. 5 months into my employment it was announced the division I was working in would be shut down by the end of 2010. I was given documents for a severance plan for the shutdown and an additional supplemental rider.
The documents stated that the severance benefits could be reduced or eliminated if my personal performance level became unsatisfactory, which includes "misconduct, poor performance, failure to adhere to company policy, or other job related factors"
I received a favorable review for my work in 2008, and for full year 2009.
During 2010, the main project which had been the focus of the prepoderance of my efforts for the last 18 months was completed successfully. I then had little work to do.
Shortly after the completion of this project, I was given an unfavorable interim review, and later offered money to resign. I refused to accept the offer and was terminated. My termination check list shows "other" as the cause of termination. The form has specific boxes for insubordination, unsatisfactory performance, misconduct, violation of policies. None of these were checked.
The company refuses to honor the signed severance documents. They state I am not elgible but will not state why. 9 months after my termination, no one has been hired to fill my role.
My position is that they removed me from my job to save money, and are refusing, for some reason unknown to me, to honor the contracts.
Can an employer just terminate you for any reason and refuse to honor a contract? If so, of what value is the contract?

