At-Will Employment in Michigan
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Michigan follows at-will employment but prohibits termination for exercising legal rights like jury duty or workers' compensation claims.
How Michigan treats At-Will Employment
Michigan law protects employees from discharge when they serve on juries, perform military service, or file workers' compensation claims. The state also recognizes a public policy exception that prevents employers from firing workers for refusing illegal acts or reporting violations. However, Michigan does not require notice or cause for most terminations, and employers can change terms of employment unilaterally unless a written contract states otherwise.
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 Michigan.