Dilbert must work in a non-at-will state. In today’s strip, “Keith” (a non-regular character) is told that he’s the next employee targeted for elimination.

“I’ll be using a rumor campaign to convince everyone you are dishonest and incompetent,” Alice says to him.

Had this been an at-will employment state like, say, Virginia, of course, Alice wouldn’t have to make up lies or excuses to get rid of the guy. The company could simply say, “We don’t want you here anymore.”

The joke is that Alice is such a nasty person that she wants to screw with Keith’s life to get him out of a job even though she doesn’t have to. Funny stuff!