At-Will Employment
A US doctrine allowing either employer or employee to end employment at any time, for almost any reason.
US-specific concept - see the local note below for the Irish/UK equivalent.
At-will employment is a principle in most US states under which an employer can dismiss an employee, and an employee can resign, at any time and without cause, provided the reason is not unlawful (such as discrimination or retaliation).
The concept gives US employers considerable flexibility but offers workers limited protection against dismissal compared with many other jurisdictions.
It is essential to recognise that at-will employment does not exist in Ireland, the UK or the wider EU, where employees enjoy strong statutory protection against unfair dismissal.
