What is At-Will Employment?

At-Will employment in North Carolina is a type of employment relationship where, in the absence of a contractual agreement between an employer and an employee establishing a definite term of employment, the relationship is presumed to be terminable at the will of either party without regard to the quality of performance of either party. This means that the employee may generally quit at any time, and the employer may generally fire the employee at any time, so long as the termination by the employer is not for an illegal reason.  

Federal and State statutes have created exceptions prohibiting employers from discharging employees based on impermissible considerations such as the employee's age, race, sex, religion, national origin, or disability, or in retaliation for filing certain claims against the employer. 

Please reach out for a consultation and case analysis if you have questions regarding your specific employment situation.

About the Author: 

Corey Lengyel is a Licensed Attorney and former Prosecutor in North Carolina. Corey has an MBA and worked in the financial tech industry as well as private law practice. Corey worked for SIG Sauer GmbH & KO. KG in Germany and is a Second Amendment Advocate.