At-Will Employment

The American default rule that employment may end at any time for any lawful reason

Overview

At-will employment lets either side end the relationship at any time without notice or cause, the default in every American state but nearly nowhere else. Exceptions grew around public policy dismissals, implied contracts, and bad faith, and statutes protect against discriminatory and retaliatory firing. Most of the world requires just cause or notice, making the rule a distinctively American institution. Contracting around it, through collective agreements or individual terms, is common for skilled labor. Montana stands apart among states, requiring just cause for discharge after a probationary period.