At-Will Employment in Massachusetts
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Massachusetts recognizes at-will employment but protects employees from wrongful termination for public policy reasons.
How Massachusetts treats At-Will Employment
Massachusetts courts have carved out significant exceptions to at-will employment, protecting workers fired for jury duty, military service, filing workers' compensation claims, or reporting safety violations. The state also recognizes a covenant of good faith and fair dealing in employment contracts, meaning employers cannot fire employees in bad faith or for malicious reasons. These protections go beyond the default at-will rule and give Massachusetts employees stronger legal standing against arbitrary dismissal.
The general definition of At-Will Employment
An employment relationship where either party can end the job at any time without cause or notice.
At-will employment is the default employment relationship in most U.S. states. It means an employer can fire an employee for any reason (or no reason) without notice, and an employee can quit for any reason without notice. However, this freedom has limits—employers cannot fire workers for illegal reasons like discrimination, retaliation, or violation of public policy.
Read the full At-Will Employment entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.