California “at-will” employment is a legal doctrine that gives employers the right to terminate an employee’s employment at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all, as long as the reason is not discriminatory or illegal. Likewise, employees are free to leave their jobs at any time, with or without notice.
Most employment in the United States is at-will employment. “At-will” employment is important because it gives employers the flexibility to manage their workforce and make changes as needed. It also gives employees the freedom to leave their jobs if they are unhappy or find a better opportunity.