I recently was employed in a restaurant (The Carolina Bistro) where I was a dishwasher. Well, my family owned another restaurant that is directly across the street. The manager of my family's restaurant called me in to fry cook one night and I went agreed to help. My employer at the Bistro informed me today (2/8/2006) that my employment had been terminated due to my helping out at my family's restaurant. Is this legal? I need a response ASAP!

Yes, this is legal. Although the law does not prohibit your holding two jobs, nothing in law requires your employer to accept your working for a competing restaurant.

Are you absolutely sure? I have people telling me that it isn't legal and that if I use this, he has to hire me back.

Yes, I am absolutely sure. I'll bet the people who are telling you that it's not legal and he will have to hire you back, are not lawyers and not HR professionals.

SC is an at-will state. You can be fired for any reason not prohibited by law. There is no law that says you can't be fired for working a second job with a competing business.