“I live in an at-will state, so there’s nothing I can do, but…” I see this phrase, or one similar, all the time. But at-will doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all when companies want to fire someone. Here’s what you need to know (as an employee or an employer).
What is at-will employment?
The simple version is that employees can quit at any time for any reason or no reason, and companies can fire employees at any time for any reason or no reason. There are, however, limits to this that are important. People get caught up in the plain language and forget that there are both legal protections and company policy protections in place.
Limits on employees
Realistically, an at-will employee can walk out the door right now. They can walk away in the middle of the busy season. They can say something rude to a customer, throw their name tag on the floor, and head out the door if they want to. They can ghost an employer. And the employer still has to pay them for all hours worked, and if it’s an exempt employee, for the whole day.
To keep reading, click here: Employment-at-Will Does Not Mean What You Think It Means