Q: I got a job offer that says I will be an "at-will" employee. What does that mean?
A:
That means that you can be fired at the will of the employer, for any reason, good, bad or ridiculous. The only exceptions are if the reason for termination involves a discriminatory motivation. There are a handful of other reasons: you can't be fired for doing something you are required to do (e.g. going to jury duty) or for refusing to do something illegal (like filing a false report). You are often protected if you are a whistle blower, if you need workers comp and a few other situations, but you should definitely consult an employment lawyer if you are in such a situation
In the positive side, you can leave the job whenever you choose. This was a big thing in the past, if you were a servant or slave.
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