At-Will Employment

4.1

Learners: 543

Instructor: Shane Patrick Irvine

Duration:

This course explores the concept of At-Will Employment, a controversial practice that allows employers to dismiss employees without cause or warning. It examines the history of the rule, its justification, and the various exceptions that have been added over the 20th century. It also looks at the implications of the rule from a law and economics perspective, and the debate surrounding it. This course is essential for anyone interested in understanding the implications of At-Will Employment and its impact on labor markets. ▼▲

Course Feature Course Overview Course Provider Discussion and Reviews

Go to class

Course Feature

Cost:

Free

Provider:

Udemy

Certificate:

No Information

Language:

English

Start Date:

2021-09-25

Course Overview

❗The content presented here is sourced directly from Udemy platform. For comprehensive course details, including enrollment information, simply click on the 'Go to class' link on our website.

Updated in [July 25th, 2023]

At-will employment is a legal concept in which an employee is hired without any contractual agreement and can be dismissed by either the employer or the employee at any time, for any reason. Proponents of this rule argue that it allows for flexibility in the employment relationship and prevents employees from claiming losses due to dismissal. However, critics of the rule point to the inequality of bargaining power between employers and employees, and argue that it is unjust.

At-will employment became the default rule in the United States during the late 19th century, and was endorsed by the Supreme Court during the Lochner era. Over the 20th century, many states modified the rule by adding exceptions or changing the default expectations in the employment contract. In workplaces with a trade union recognized for collective bargaining, and in many public sector jobs, the normal standard for dismissal is that the employer must have a "just cause." Otherwise, subject to statutory rights, most states adhere to the principle that employers and employees may contract for the dismissal protection they choose.

At-will employment remains a controversial topic, and is a central topic of debate in the study of law and economics, particularly with regard to the macroeconomic efficiency of allowing employers to summarily and arbitrarily terminate employees.