What is Employment At Will?

Defining At Will Employment

Employment in Massachusetts is considered "at will." This means the employer can generally terminate the relationship, or the employee can resign, for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all.

There are exceptions, of course- it cannot be an unlawful reason (for example, discrimination or unlawful retaliation). But it does mean that in the absence of an unlawful motivation, the decision does not have to be fair or reasonable. If the termination is for cause, the employer does not necessarily even have to be right about the events or issues that triggered the termination.

It also means that an employer is not required to go through any particular disciplinary process or system of warnings before terminating an employee.

If, however, there is any reason to believe that the decision was motivated by discrimination or retaliation, the employer will need to demonstrate a legitimate, non discriminatory or non retaliatory reason if you challenge the termination through a legal claim.

Learn more here about employment termination in Massachusetts.