At-Will Employment

What is At-Will Employment?

At-will employment indicates that “an employer may terminate an employee at any time for any cause, except for an illegal reason” or that a person may be fired without a court order holding the employer responsible.

Why At-Will Employment Matters

A job is considered at-will if the employer can alter the conditions of employment without giving prior warning or facing repercussions. In essence, a company is free to change its employees’ pay, perks, and call-in hours at any moment. An employment contract that details the employer’s hiring and firing policies can change the at-will employment provision.

Additionally, “an employee is free to leave a job at any moment for any reason or no reason” without worrying about potential legal repercussions is referred to as “at-will employment.”