What does it mean to be hired at will?
At-Will Defined. At-will means that an employer can terminate an employee at any time for any reason, except an illegal one, or for no reason without incurring legal liability. Likewise, an employee is free to leave a job at any time for any or no reason with no adverse legal consequences.
Is at-will employment really at will?
At-will employment is employment that either party (employer or employee) can terminate at any time, for any reason or no reason at all. Under California Labor Code 2922, all employment in the state is presumed to be “at-will” unless the parties agree otherwise or an exception to at-will employment applies.
Can a company change an employee’s at will status?
Definition. It is common for employers to define what at-will employment means, explain that an employee’s at-will status cannot be changed except in a writing signed by the company president (or chief executive), and require that an employee sign an acknowledgment of his or her at-will status.
What does it mean to be an at will employee?
At-will employment is the default employment status in almost all U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Unless your employees have signed an agreement or contract that indicates employment isn’t at-will, they are considered to be at-will employees. At-will employment works both ways though.
Where do you find employment at will statement?
Such a statement might appear in an employment application, an employment contract or offer letter that the employer asks you to sign and return, an acknowledgment form for an employee handbook, or elsewhere.
What should an at will employment policy look like?
Employers should have their at-will employment policy in writing so employees are clear about their status. Employees should review any documents they’re asked to sign carefully, and ask their employer or consult an attorney if anything seems ambiguous. Here is an example of what an at-will employment policy might look like:
Definition. It is common for employers to define what at-will employment means, explain that an employee’s at-will status cannot be changed except in a writing signed by the company president (or chief executive), and require that an employee sign an acknowledgment of his or her at-will status.
At-will employment is the default employment status in almost all U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Unless your employees have signed an agreement or contract that indicates employment isn’t at-will, they are considered to be at-will employees. At-will employment works both ways though.
Such a statement might appear in an employment application, an employment contract or offer letter that the employer asks you to sign and return, an acknowledgment form for an employee handbook, or elsewhere.
Employers should have their at-will employment policy in writing so employees are clear about their status. Employees should review any documents they’re asked to sign carefully, and ask their employer or consult an attorney if anything seems ambiguous. Here is an example of what an at-will employment policy might look like: