At-Will Employment in Missouri
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Missouri recognizes at-will employment as the default but protects employees from retaliation for workers' compensation claims and jury duty.
How Missouri treats At-Will Employment
Missouri law presumes at-will employment unless a written contract provides otherwise, but employers cannot fire workers for filing workers' compensation claims, serving on juries, or performing military service. Missouri courts have also recognized narrow public policy exceptions, such as protecting employees who refuse to commit illegal acts. However, Missouri does not require employers to provide notice or establish cause for most terminations, and implied contracts are difficult to establish.
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 Missouri.