What does "emploment at will" mean? (Pittsburgh, Penn: employment, corporate)

[dbwindyusa]

Hell, I am from another country and now I am in Pittsburgh.
There is word "employment at will" on my new contract with a company.
Anyone can tell me what does it mean?

Thanks!

[Pitt Chick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment

[dastars]

The simplest explanation is that "at will" means you can be fired (or quit) at any time for any reason. This differs from having an employment contract which would specify the grounds under which a separation would occur.

[tyovan4]

Employment at Will in Pennsylvania: The Basics - FindLaw

[eschaton]

Sadly, in the U.S. you can generally be fired for any reason, or no reason at all, unless:

1. You are fired for discriminatory reasons related to status in a "protected class" (race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, etc).

2. You are in a union workplace and covered by a collective bargaining agreement which establishes just cause for discipline and discharge.

[quackxp]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Sadly, in the U.S. you can generally be fired for any reason, or no reason at all, unless:

1. You are fired for discriminatory reasons related to status in a "protected class" (race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, etc).

2. You are in a union workplace and covered by a collective bargaining agreement which establishes just cause for discipline and discharge.

3. You have signed an employment contract that stipulates when and how you can be fired and or quit.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by quackxp

3. You have signed an employment contract that stipulates when and how you can be fired and or quit.

True enough. Good luck negotiating one of those unless you have super-star talents that cannot be replaced by someone else.

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by dastars

The simplest explanation is that "at will" means you can be fired (or quit) at any time for any reason. This differs from having an employment contract which would specify the grounds under which a separation would occur.

Yes, and I'd say it's pretty common language in employment offers.