California is technically an at-will employment state. But practically speaking, that designation comes with so many asterisks that employers who treat at-will as a blank check to terminate anyone at any time are setting themselves up for costly litigation.
Here are five things every California employer needs to understand about the at-will doctrine:
1. At-Will
Nearly every state in the U.S. recognizes the at-will employment doctrine, except for Montana. However, a new law taking effect in California on January 1, 2024, erodes the at-will doctrine even more, and when coupled with the ever increasing list of protected activities that employers may not rely upon for employment decisions (which in 2024
The legislative session has drawn to a close, and a slew of bills now await Governor Newsom’s decision. He has until October 14, 2023, to either sign them into law or veto them. In this week’s Friday Five, we spotlight the five bills, in the author’s view, that could profoundly affect California employers:
1.