at-will

[ at-wil ]

adjective

1. being, relating to, or involved in a work agreement that the employer or employee may legally end at any time without notice or cause:

   Companies in this industry often use both contract and at-will employment options.

   Since they aren't at-will employees, they can only be discharged with cause.

   Even in at-will states, employers cannot fire you for discriminatory reasons.

Word History and Origins

Origin of at-will¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

Freely, as one pleases, as in The grounds are open to the public and one can wander about at will , or With this thermostat you can adjust the room temperature at will . [1300s]

Example Sentences

It calls for "the elimination of nearly all civil service protections for federal workers by making them at-will employees."

From Salon

The Republican administration asked all federal agencies to report back which employees should be placed on a new “Schedule F” that would classify them as at-will employees who can quit or be fired at any time, for any reason.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump sought to classify those employees as at-will workers and exempt them from civil service protections and processes include seniority and testing, according to Bowdoin College government professor Andrew Rudalevige.

From Salon

In April, the Office of Personnel Management issued a new rule that would ban federal workers from being reclassified as political appointees or other at-will employees, which makes them easier to dismiss.

From Seattle Times

When there are layoffs, those who survive the cuts are reminded of the precariousness of at-will employment.

From New York Times

Related Words

• candidly
• openly
• voluntarily
• willingly