At-Will Employment in New York
State-specific overview · Employment Law
New York applies at-will employment but requires good faith and fair dealing in all employment contracts.
How New York treats At-Will Employment
New York recognizes at-will employment as the default rule but imposes an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in every employment relationship. This means employers cannot terminate in bad faith or for malicious reasons, even without a written contract. The state also protects employees from retaliation for jury duty, filing safety complaints, or exercising legal rights. Public policy exceptions are broader in New York than in many other states.
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 New York.