Oklahoma Wrongful Discharge Public Policy Exception Employment Discrimination is a legal concept that protects employees from being wrongfully discharged from their job. This type of discrimination occurs when an employee is discharged from their job in violation of a public policy. Oklahoma recognizes two types of public policy wrongful discharge exceptions: statutory and common law. Statutory wrongful discharge occurs when an employee is discharged in violation of a specific statute, such as the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act or the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act. Common law wrongful discharge occurs when an employee is discharged in violation of a public policy that is not codified in a specific statute. This includes policies such as the right to refuse to commit illegal acts or the right to petition or report a safety hazard. Under Oklahoma law, an employee who has been wrongfully discharged on the basis of public policy may be able to recover damages, including lost wages and benefits, as well as emotional distress damages.