Sufficient cause is a legally justifiable reason for firing someone from a job. In other words, it is a legitimate reason for firing someone from a position as opposed to just firing him or her on a whim, or for an illegitimate reason. Sufficient cause can be an important issue for wrongful termination cases.
Employees who believe that they have been fired without sufficient cause often sue employers for wrongful termination. This is why many employers only choose to fire people if they have done something that obviously demonstrates sufficient cause. Examples of things that could demonstrate sufficient cause include stealing from the company, physically attacking other employees, intentionally burning down the office, etc. The manner in which an employee leaves a company can also be relevant for social programs such as unemployment compensation.